The Gram reaction was determined by the KOH method of Gregersen (1978). Oxidase activity was evaluated using Bactident oxidase strips (Merck) according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Catalase activity, the hydrolysis of starch, aesculin and casein and H2S production were analysed according to the methods of Smibert & Krieg (1994). Gelatin hydrolysis, indole production, nitrate reduction and arginine dihydrolase,
b-galactosidase and urease activities were investigated by using the API 20NE
system (bioMe´rieux) according to the instructions of the manufacturer. Substrate utilization tests were performed by
using ISP9 (Shirling & Gottlieb, 1966) as the basal medium.
Each substrate was added at a final concentration of 0.2%
(w/v) according to Ka¨mpfer et al. (1991)