ALPHA-MANNOSIDASE - A RAPID TEST FOR IDENTIFICATION OF ARCANOBACTERIUM-HAEMOLYTICUM

A 4-h alpha-mannosidase test for identification of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum strains (n = 139) and differentiation of A. haemolyticum from Actinomyces pyogenes strains (n = 30) and other gram-positive rods was evaluated. Practically all A. haemolyticum strains (138 of 139) and the Listeria monocytogenes type strain were alpha-mannosidase positive, while all A. pyogenes strains and Corynebacterium (n = 25) strains os well as the Rhodococcus equi and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae type strains were negative. The rapid alpha-mannosidase test, in conjunction with a Gram stain and catalase and reverse CAMP tests, was useful in identification of A. haemolyticum and in differentiation of A. haemolyticum from d. pyogenes and Cocynebacterium spp.