Barton M D, Hughes K L
J Reprod Fertil Suppl. 1982;32:481-9.
A total of 189 isolates of Rhodococcus equi and related organisms and 16 marker strains representing the genera Rhodococcus and Corynebacterium were screened for 160 unit characters in a numerical taxonomic study. Analysis of the data indicated that R. equi forms a relatively homogeneous cluster distinctly separated from the recognized species of Rhodococcus and Corynebacterium (sensu stricto). Other members of the genus Rhodococcus are soil organisms and R. equi appears to fit into the genus on ecological as well as taxonomic grounds. It seems unlikely that R. equi could be a gastrointestinal tract commensal because unlike members of the latter group it is an obligate aerobe with an optimum temperature requirement of 28-30 degrees C. It is capable of utilizing simple organic compounds as sources of carbon or carbon and nitrogen and is sensitive to bile salts. Furthermore, it appears that isolation of R. equi from the gut contents of animals is dependent on those animals having access to grazing. Taxonomic studies (backed-up by ecological studies) support the concept that R. equi is a soil organism.
在一项数值分类学研究中，对总共189株马红球菌及相关微生物菌株以及代表红球菌属和棒状杆菌属的16株标记菌株进行了160个单位性状的筛选。数据分析表明，马红球菌形成了一个相对同质的类群，明显与公认的红球菌属和棒状杆菌属（严格意义上）的物种分开。红球菌属的其他成员是土壤微生物，从生态学和分类学角度来看，马红球菌似乎也适合归入该属。马红球菌不太可能是胃肠道共生菌，因为与后一组成员不同，它是专性需氧菌，最适温度要求为28 - 30摄氏度。它能够利用简单有机化合物作为碳源或碳源和氮源，并且对胆盐敏感。此外，从动物肠道内容物中分离出马红球菌似乎取决于这些动物有机会放牧。分类学研究（得到生态学研究的支持）支持马红球菌是土壤微生物这一概念。
