Virulence and citrulline ureidase activity of Pasteurella tularensis.

Marchette, Nyven J. (University of Utah, Salt Lake City), and Paul S. Nicholes. Virulence and citrulline ureidase activity of Pasteurella tularensis. J. Bacteriol. 82:26-32. 1961.-The presence of a citrulline ureidase system in Pasteurella tularensis strains of high virulence, and its absence in avirulent strains and strains of low virulence was confirmed. The presence of this system, however, was shown to be not directly related to virulence. The only wild strain of P. tularensis tested that lacked a citrulline ureidase system was isolated from a rodent. All the strains, isolated from rabbits, rabbit ticks, a human being, and a horse, that were tested possessed this system. The existence of two North American varieties of P. tularensis was postulated on the basis of virulence and citrulline ureidase activity.