New Moraxella Strain Isolated from Angular Conjunctivitis

The methods followed for morphological, cultural, and biochemical identification were essentially those recommended for Moraxella (2). Locomotion was studied with a modified moist chamber technique (9), by using the medium of Halvorsen (5) with 10% (v/v) horse serum. To study cell habit and the cytoplasmic structure, cells were fixed in situ through the agar with Bouin's fluid (8), stained with 0.01% thionine, and mounted in water. The capsule stain of White (11) was used. Heat resistance was tested with the capillary tube method in a water bath. All biochemical tests were carried out with and without the addition of 10% (v/v) horse serum to the media. A heavy inoculum and aeration were used in fluid media where appropriate. Gelatinase activity was also studied by incorporating 3% gelatin in the Moraxella base medium (10). The oxidase reaction was performed by smearing the culture across filter paper impregnated with a 1% aqueous solution of dimethyl-p-phenylene-diamine hydrochloride and 0.5% tetramethyl-p-phenylene-diamine hydrochloride. The catalase reaction was done by running 1 ml of 3% hydrogen peroxide down on the colonies on a serum-meat infusion-agar slope and by mixing washed packed bacteria with 3% hydrogen peroxide. One per cent carbohydrates were incorporated in ascites-agar slants. Hemolysis was studied in 5% blood-agar media of 5 mm thickness and on yeast extract-agar with 1and 2-mm 5% blood-agar overlays, and the media were incubated aerobically and under increased CO2 pressure. Incubation temperatures were 33 and 37 C. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction was done by the technique of B0vre et al. (1). The guanine plus cytosine (GC) contents were determined by measurements of buoyant density in CsCl gradients. RESULTS