TABLE 1.
Phenotypic characteristics that differentiate the five Kingella species
| Characteristic | K. kingae | K. negevensis | K. denitrificans | K. oralis | K. potus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gram stain | Coccobacilli in pairs and short chains | Coccobacilli in long chains, early autolysis | Coccobacilli in pairs and short chains | Rods or coccobacilli, sometimes in pairs and short chains | Rods |
| Hemolysis | β | β | − | − | − |
| Pitting of the agar | + | + | + | + | − |
| Pigment | − | − | − | − | + |
| Oxidase | + | + | + | + | + |
| Catalase | − | − | − | − | − |
| Acid production form glucose | + | + | + | + | − |
| Acid production from maltose | + | − | − | − | − |
| H2S production | − | − | − | + | − |
| DNase | − | − | − | − | + |
| NO2− reduction | − | − | + | − | − |
| NO3− reduction | − | − | + | − | − |
| Phosphatase activity | + | + | − | + | − |