FAMILY CORYXEBACTERIACEAE 381 



FAMILY VIII. CORYNEBACTERIACEAE LEHMANN AND NEUMANN, 



(Bakt. Diag., 4 Aufl., 2, 1907, 500.) 



Non-motile (motile in Listeria) rods, frequently banded or beaded with meta- 

 chromatic granules. May show marked diversity of form. Branching cells have 

 been observed in a few species but these are uncommon. Generally Gram-positive 

 but this reaction may vary depending on the nature of the cells. Where pigment is 

 formed, it is grayish-3'ellow to orange or pink in color. Aerobic to microaerophilic. 

 Anaerobic species have been reported. Gelatin may be liquefied and nitrites may be 

 produced from nitrates. Animal and plant parasites and pathogens. Also from 

 dairy products, soil and water. 



Key to the genera of family Corynebacteriaceae. 

 I. Aerobic to microaerophilic, non-motile (or questionably motile) rods which are 

 variable in form. Animal and plant parasites and pathogens, with some from dairy 

 products, soil and water. 



Genus I. Corynebacteriu77i,p.d8l. 

 II. Small aerobic rods with 1 to 4 flagella. Causes a monocytosis in warm-blooded 

 animals. 



Genus II. Listeria, p. 408. 

 III. Microaerophilic, non -motile rods to long filaments. Pathogenic on warm-blooded 

 animals . 



Genus III. Erysipelothrix, p. 410. 



Genus I. Corynebacterium Lehmann and Neumann.* 

 (Lehmann and Neumann, Bakt. Diag., 1 Aufl., 2, 1896, 390; Corynethrix Czaplewski, 

 Deutsche med. Wchns^hr., 26, 1903, 723; Corynemonas Orla-Jensen, Cent. f. Bakt., 

 II Abt., 22, 1909, 344; Corynobacierium Enderlein. Sitzber. Gesell. Naturf. Freunde, 

 Berlin, 1917, 309; Flocamobacterium Lowi, Wiener klin. Wchnschr., 33, 1920. 730. 

 From Greek koryne, club and M. L. bacterium, a small rod. 



Slender, straight to slightly curved rods, with irregularly stained segments or 

 granules. Frequently show pointed or club-shaped swellings at the ends. Snapping 

 division produces angular and palisade (picket fence) arrangements of cells. Non- 

 motile with possible exceptions as stated in the text. Gram-positive to variable, 

 sometimes young cells and sometimes old cells being Gram -negative. Granules in- 

 variablj' Gram-positive. Generally quite aerobic, but microaerophilic or even anaer- 

 obic species occur. Catalase positive. They may or may not liquefy gelatin, and 

 may or may not produce nitrites from nitrates . They may or may not ferment sugars, 

 but they seldom produce a high acidity. Many species oxidize glucose completely to 

 CO2 and H2O without producing visible gas. Some pathogenic species produce a 

 powerful exotoxin. This group is widely distributed in nature. The best known 

 species are parasites and pathogens on man and domestic animals. Other species 

 have been found in birds and insects and the group is probably more widely distributed 

 in the animal kingdom than this. Several species are well known plant pathogens 

 while still other common species are found in dairy products, water and soil. 



The type species is Corynebacterium diphlheriae (Fliigge) Lehmann and Neumann. 



* Rearranged by Prof. E. G. D. Murray, McGill University, Montreal, P. Q., 

 Canada and Prof. Robert S. Breed, New York State Experiment Station, Geneva, 

 New York, March, 1938; completelj' revised by Prof. E. G. D. Murray, ]\Iontreal, 

 Prof. Robert S. Breed, Geneva and Prof. Walter H. Burkholder, New York State 

 College of Agriculture, Ithaca, New York, February, 1945. 



