Author: Miladin Kostovic

## Leptospira classification - Species definition

International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology
Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Leptospira

`Minutes of Meetings, 1 & 2 July 1994, Prague, Czech Republic`

Minute 17. Species. Subcommittee recommended the adoption of the species definition based on at least 70 % DNA relatedness by DNA/DNA homology (Wayne et al., 1987, Int. J. Syst. Bact. 37: 463-464) and <= 5 % divergence in DNA relatedness.

Minute 18. Serovar. The subcommittee recommended that taxonomy at the subspecific level should be based on the serovar as defined by Dikken and Kmety (1978, Methods in Microbiology, 11: 259-307) but other validated methods can be used for identification. Such methods are: analysis of monoclonal antibodies or factor sera, analysis according to restriction fragment patterns, and analysis by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).

Minute 19. Types. The subcommittee recommended that the term type be used to indicate strain differences at the sub serovar level.