The bacteria were characterized by microscopic morphological examination and by conventional biochemical and physiological tests. Gram staining, catalase activity, gas production from glucose, growth in NaCl (2-6.5%), growth at different temperature (10-45oC), and production of amino acid from arginine were determined according to the methods of Harrigan and McCance (1976) and Roissart and Luguet (1994). The identification work was done according to the methods described in Bergey’s Manual (Sneath et al. 1986). All the strains were maintained by weekly sub-culturing from 48-hour MRS agar cultures.