ABSTRACT
Twelve species of organisms distributed among five genera have been proposed for inclusion in the family Actinomycetaceae1 (see Tables 1 and 2). Of the species listed, the taxonomical status of Actinomyces eriksonii remains to be firmly established; on the basis of glucose fermentation, it may well belong in the genus Bifidobacterium. The genus Agromyces 2 is microaerophilic and fermentative and lacks both catalase and a cytochrome system. It belongs to the Actinomycetaceae, but it is discussed as one of the soil actinomycetes (see page 204). All species listed in Table 2, except Actinomyces humiferus, have been isolated from human or animal sources, and several cause invasive disease.
