Bacteroides ovatus

**Semantic type:** Bacterium

**Definition:** A species of anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Bacteroidetes. This species is nonmotile, non-spore forming, indole positive, hydrolyzes starch and esculin, produces hydrogen sulfide, does not reduce nitrate and ferments melezitose and cellobiose. B. ovatus is commensal and part of the normal human gastrointestinal tract flora, but may become pathogenic in other body regions.

**Synonyms:** - BACTEROIDES OVATUS