Numerical Taxonomy of Vibrios Isolated from Estuarine Environments

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Abstract
We used numerical taxonomy procedures to analyze data obtained from 227 strains belonging to either the genus Vibrio or related genera; included were pathogenic and nonpathogenic vibrios isolated from a variety of samples and geographic locations. Each strain was tested for 150 unit characters. At a similarity coefficient of 70 to 75% or more, the 227 strains clustered into 33 phena, representing Vibrio anguillarum, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio metschnikovii, Aeromonas hydrophila, and new species of Vibrio. Non-O1 and O1 serovars of V. cholerae clustered at the species level of relationship (i.e., at a similarity coefficient of ≥75%). Furthermore, subdivision of V. cholerae into classical, El Tor, proteus, and albensis biovars was not observed. In fact, the biovar proteus was found to warrant separate species status as Vibrio proteus. Only the sucrose-negative members of Heiberg group V were distinguishable as a separate cluster and were recognized as a separate biovar. Sucrose-positive strains and urease-positive strains of V. parahaemolyticus were identified. The differences among the four groups of V. anguillarum examined did not warrant recognition of biovars.