Hydrolysis of indoxyl acetate by Campylobacter species.

One hundred and twelve Campylobacter strains comprising 15 species and subspecies were examined for their ability to hydrolyze indoxyl acetate. All strains of C. coli, C. cryaerophila, C. fennelliae, and C. jejuni hydrolyzed the compound, whereas three strains of C. cinaedi were negative and a fourth was weakly positive. Representatives of all other species were negative. Organisms that hydrolyzed indoxyl acetate did so regardless of the medium used.