Mycoplasma crocodyli sp. nov., a new species from crocodiles.

Organisms with the typical characteristics of mycoplasmas were isolated from joints and lungs of crocodiles. The results of growth inhibition tests and immunobinding assays showed that the 24 mycoplasma strains isolated were identical and distinct from previously described Mycoplasma, Entomoplasma, Mesoplasma, and Acholeplasma species. These organisms represent a new species, for which the name Mycoplasma crocodyli is proposed. M. crocodyli ferments glucose and maltose, does not produce films and spots, does not hydrolyze arginine, esculin, and urea, reduces tetrazolium chloride, and possesses phosphatase activity. It lyses and adsorbs bovine, ovine, and rabbit erythrocytes. Cholesterol or serum is required for growth. The optimum growth temperature is 37 degrees C. The G + C content of the DNA is 27.6 mol%. This organism causes exudative polyarthritis in crocodiles. The type strain of M. crocodyli is strain MP145 (= ATCC 51981).