Streptococcus phocae sp. nov., a new species isolated from clinical specimens from seals.

A new beta-hemolytic streptococcal species, Streptococcus phocae, was isolated from organ specimens obtained from seals. This taxon is described on the basis of the results of a study of 22 strains. S. phocae was serologically somewhat heterogeneous (group antigen -/F/C). Strains belonging to this species exhibited high levels of DNA-DNA homology to each other, as determined by DNA-DNA hybridization, but low levels of DNA-DNA homology to the type strains of other streptococcal species. A simple scheme for the differentiation of S. phocae from other beta-hemolytic streptococci is presented. Strain 8399 H1 (= NCTC 12719) is the type strain of S. phocae.