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The phenotypic characteristics of 124 strains of Alteromonas putrefaciens, a bacterium that produces large quantities of hydrogen sulfide, were studied. The strains were isolated from man, warm and cold-blooded animals (especially fish and shellfish), marine and fresh waters. Two phenetic groups were differentiated: group A strains grew at 42 degrees C, but not at 4 degrees C, tolerated 6 p. cent NaCl and did not utilize glucose or maltose, unlike group B strains. Each group could be divided into two subgroups A1, A2 and B1, B2. Citrate utilization, hydrolysis of urea and aesculin, resistance or susceptibility to cephalothin and vibriostatic agent 0/129 were useful for subgroup determination. The taxonomic relatedness of A. putrefaciens to genus Alteromonas are discussed.

25 strains of Alteromonas putrefaciens, most of them from marine medium, isolated in Madagascar, are reported. Biochemical characters are studied to class them in 2 subspecies. Routinely, Alteromonas putrefaciens must be chiefly differentiate with H2S-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The ecology is recapitulated.

Curable resistance to cobalt, zinc and cadmium ions was observed in a hydrogen-utilizing Pseudomonas. Resistance to cobalt was transferred to P. aeruginosa and can be transferred again between P. aeruginosa strains.