title: Alpha-mannosidase: a rapid test for identification of Arcanobacterium haemolyticum.
abstract: 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 as 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 A. pyogenes and Corynebacterium spp.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Aurora Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kontiainen
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000191:Actinomycetaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D016987:Gram-Positive Rods / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008361:Mannosidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D043323:alpha-Mannosidase
chemical_list: D008361:Mannosidases; D043323:alpha-Mannosidase