title: A new species of Neisseria from the dental plaque of the domestic cow, Neisseria dentiae sp. nov.
abstract: A new species of the genus Neisseria is proposed, Neisseria dentiae sp. nov. The organism is found in dental plaque of domestic cows. It resembles N. animalis, N. canis and N. iguanae phenotypically but is distinguished from the first two by being positive for acidification of gluconate, D-glucose and usually D-fructose, and from the third by lack of predominant tetrad arrangement, lack of distinct alpha-haemolysis and by growing on nutrient agar and usually acidifying D-fructose. It is suggested that it may have significance for dental microbiology because members of the genus rapidly utilize oxygen and this may contribute to the anaerobic microenvironment found in dental plaque.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Leicester University, UK.
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Sneath
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D003773:Dental Plaque / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D009343:Neisseria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology