Actinobacillus scotiae sp. nov., a new member of the family Pasteurellaceae Pohl (1979) 1981 isolated from porpoises (Phocoena phocoena).

Abstract

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from three porpoises. Biochemical and physiological studies indicated that the bacterium was related to the family Pasteurellaceae. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies confirmed these findings and demonstrated that the bacterium represents a hitherto unknown subline. The nearest phylogenetic relative of the unknown bacterium was Actinobacillus delphinicola, an organism also originating from sea mammals, although a sequence divergence of 3% demonstrated that the newly isolated bacterium is a distinct species. On the basis of the results of the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic criteria, it is proposed that the bacterium should be classified as a new species, Actinobacillus scotiae sp. nov. The type strain of Actinobacillus scotiae sp. nov. is NCTC 12922T (= M2000/95/1T).