Numerical taxonomy of coryneform bacteria isolated from pond-reared shrimp (Penaeus aztecus) and pond water.

Gram-positive, catalase-positive, nonsporeforming, pleomorphic rods isolated from pond-reared shrimp and pond water were compared with type cultures of the Corynebacteriaceae. Classification of the type cultures based on 66 cell and colony characters proved comparable to one based on 163 morphological, biochemical, and physiological characters. This similarity was not observed with pond isolates. With the aid of numerical analysis, pond isolates could be placed into six major groups based on certain biochemical and physiological tests. Coryneform bacteria isolated from shrimp and water exhibited little similarity to the type cultures. The pond isolates probably are members of the Corynebacteriaceae not previously studied in detail.