Chemotaxonomy of selected species of the Actinobacillus-Haemophilus-Pasteurella group by means of gas chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and bioenzymatic methods.

Instrumental analytical and bioenzymatic methods were used to differentiate between species of the Actinobacillus-Haemophilus-Pasteurella group. Long-chain fatty acids were analysed directly with gas chromatography (GC) without derivatization. GC of trifluoroacetylated whole-cell methanolysates was a rapid method for differentiation. Cellular sugars were more suitable for differentiation than fatty acids. D-Glycero-D-mannoheptose, the major localization of which was lipopolysaccharide, distinguished H. aphrophilus from A. actinomycetemcomitans, H. paraphrophilus, H. influenzae type b, P. haemolytica, P. multocida, and P. ureae. GC of single colonies, which is a new chemotaxonomic method, was preferable to GC of liquid-grown cells. Lysozyme-and EDTA-induced bacteriolysis and reduction of methylene blue by cellular hydrogenase served as additional criteria for differentiation.