Notes on the almost unknown genus Jeotgalicoccus

Aims: To facilitate isolation and differentiation of the almost entirely unknown Jeotgalicoccus spp. Methods and Results: Jeotgalicoccus spp. have been found in dust samples using SSCP-PCR analysis. As the cultivation of strains is necessary for further studies on virulence, pathogenicity or metabolism, we developed a method for cultural isolation and further differentiation of Jeotgalicoccus spp. We found that J. halotolerans, J. psychrophilus, J. marinus, as well as the related species Salinicoccus roseus grow on Baird Parker (BP) agar as black colonies without clear zones. J. pinnipedialis and S. jeotgali grow only weakly on BP agar without forming clearly delineated colonies. On BP agar, the colony-forming Jeotgalicoccus and Salinicoccus spp. are not distinguishable from coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. (CNS). However, unlike CNS, all of the above mentioned species are unreactive in the OF test. SSCP-PCR was able to differentiate between all investigated Jeotgalicoccus and Salinicoccus spp., as all species had different band positions. Conclusions: Jeotgalicoccus spp. and Salinicoccus spp. may be widely distributed in the environment, but, until now, overlooked or confused with staphylococci. Further epidemiological studies, which are required to prove this hypothesis, are facilitated by the observations of our study. Significance and Impact: This not yet published information enables researchers to carry out epidemiological studies on Jeotgalicoccus spp. in a very cheap and easy way.