Abstract
A computer-assisted identification procedure was evaluated with 15 reference strains of Lactobacillus species comprising those of all three physiological groups, I, II and III. Fermentation tests were performed with the API 50CH strip (API System, France), and the identification scores (%id) for every taxon were calculated on the basis of a probability matrix (version 2.1) supplied by the manufacturer. Fourteen strains were identified correctly; the remainder, L. buchneri, was identified as L. brevis, a species often phenotypically indistinguishable from L. buchneri. It was concluded that the method was feasible for practical identification of Lactobacillus species when ( I ) tests were read at 48 h or later, (ii) the API 50CHL medium originally recommended was replaced by a modified MRS medium, M86,(iii) C0_2 production from glucose and gluconate was tested parallely, and (iv) at least in some cases, the source of isolation was considered.
