Characteristics of Togo strains of Brucella abortus from cattle.

Thirty Togolese strains of Brucella from cattle were classified as members of B. abortus biotype 3 by the recommended methods of the Subcommittee on Taxonomy of this genus. However two unusual characteristics distinguish the Togolese strains from the main group of B. abortus: their mean oxidative profile altered on four of the conventional substrates (L-asparagine, L-arabinose, D-galactose and D-xylose) and their very slow growth on usual media. These two original characteristics are discussed from an epidemiological and taxonomical point of view.