Genetic relatedness within the genus Campylobacter inferred from rpoB sequences

Prevalence, antibacterial susceptibility, and virulence gene profiles of Arcobacter species isolated from seafood

Arcobacter butzleri, an emerging foodborne zoonotic pathogen, is increasingly associated with gastrointestinal and systemic infections in humans, and with diarrhea, mastitis, and abortions in animals. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and virulence gene profiles of Arcobacter species isolated from seafood. A total of 560 samples were analyzed, including 300 fresh seafood samples (100 fresh/raw fish, 50 shrimp, 50 crabs, 50 oysters, and 50 lobsters) and 260 preserved seafood samples (70 smoked fish, 70 salted fish, 50 dried fish, and 70 frozen fish). Arcobacter spp. were isolated using an Arcobacter an enrichment and direct filtration method. Antibiotic susceptibility was assessed using the disk diffusion method following Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. PCR was conducted to detect ten putative virulence genes and five resistance genes. Arcobacter spp. were detected in 21.43% (120/560) of the tested seafood samples, with the highest prevalence in fresh fish (42%) and oysters (40%). Among isolates, A. butzleri was predominant (14.82%), followed by A. cryaerophilus (6.25%) and A. skirrowii (0.36%). Virulence genes were present in 84.6% of A. butzleri and 73.5% of A. cryaerophilus isolates. Resistance genes were found in 82.7% and 67.6% of these species, respectively. Antibiotic resistance was highest in A. butzleri, particularly to vancomycin, cephalosporins, ciprofloxacin, and beta-lactams, while A. skirrowii showed minimal resistance. Most isolates remained sensitive to polymyxin-B, colistin, gentamicin, and carbapenems. The study finds high rates of contamination of fresh fish, smoked fish, salted fish, dried fish, frozen fish, oysters, crabs, lobster, and shrimp, indicating the potential role of Arcobacter spp. in causing infections.

Arcobacter species isolated from human stool samples, animal products, ready-to-eat salad mixes, and ambient water: prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and virulence gene profiles

INTRODUCTION

Arcobacter species are emerging foodborne pathogens increasingly associated with human illness worldwide. They are commonly found in the gastrointestinal tracts of animals and are frequently isolated from various food sources, including raw meat, poultry, and seafood. The aim of this study is to investigate the antimicrobial resistance patterns of Arcobacter spp. isolated from human stool samples, animal products, ready-to-eat salad mixes, and ambient water, assess the presence of resistance genes, and explore their potential implications for public health.

METHODS

In this study, a total of 683 samples were collected from the Shahrekord area over a 12-month period. Samples were obtained from human stool, chicken meat, raw cow milk, RTE salad mixes, and environmental water sources. Two different methods were used to detect Arcobacter, depending on the sample type: bacteriological isolation and identification, and molecular identification. After identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify ten putative Arcobacter virulence and resistance genes.

FINDINGS

The results revealed that Arcobacter spp. were present in 26.06% (178 out of 683) of the tested samples, with varying isolation rates across different sample types. A. butzleri being the most commonly isolated species across all sample types, while A. cryaerophilus was restricted to RTE salads, surface waters, and chicken meat. Notably, A. skirrowii was only isolated from chicken meat and environmental water. The differences of Arcobacter spp. in prevalence between the sample types were statistically significant (p < 0.05), and no significant seasonal variation was found across the sampling periods (p > 0.05). PCR analysis for ten putative virulence genes indicated that the cadF gene was present in all Arcobacter isolates. Similarly, 83.33% of the tested strains harbored the ciaB gene, while other genes were less frequently detected. Regarding resistance genes, tet(O) (7.69%) was the most identified gene, followed by blaOXA-61 (4.37%).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this study highlights the alarming prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Arcobacter spp. Monitoring Arcobacter spp. resistance can be achieved through surveillance, risk assessments, antibiotic stewardship in agriculture, public education, research collaborations, rapid diagnostics, and harmonized policies, all aimed at reducing contamination and safeguarding public health effectively.

Application of Bacteriophages to Limit Campylobacter in Poultry Production

Campylobacter is a major foodborne pathogen with over a million United States cases a year and is typically acquired through the consumption of poultry products. The common occurrence of Campylobacter as a member of the poultry gastrointestinal tract microbial community remains a challenge for optimizing intervention strategies. Simultaneously, increasing demand for antibiotic-free products has led to the development of several alternative control measures both at the farm and in processing operations. Bacteriophages administered to reduce foodborne pathogens are one of the alternatives that have received renewed interest. Campylobacter phages have been isolated from both conventionally and organically raised poultry. Isolated and cultivated Campylobacter bacteriophages have been used as an intervention in live birds to target colonized Campylobacter in the gastrointestinal tract. Application of Campylobacter phages to poultry carcasses has also been explored as a strategy to reduce Campylobacter levels during poultry processing. This review will focus on the biology and ecology of Campylobacter bacteriophages in poultry production followed by discussion on current and potential applications as an intervention strategy to reduce Campylobacter occurrence in poultry production.

Prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence gene profiles of Arcobacter species isolated from human stool samples, foods of animal origin, ready-to-eat salad mixes and environmental water

Background

Members of the genus Arcobacter are considered as emerging zoonotic food and waterborne pathogens that cause gastroenteritis and bacteremia in humans. However, the potential risk that Arcobacter species pose to public health remains unassessed in various countries, including Baltic states. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility and presence of putative virulence genes of Arcobacter isolates recovered from humans, food products and environmental water in Lithuania.

Results

A total of 1862 samples were collected and examined from 2018 to 2020 in the city of Kaunas. Overall, 11.2% (n = 208) of the samples were positive for the presence of Arcobacter spp. The highest prevalence was detected in chicken meat (36%), followed by environmental water (28.1%), raw cow milk (25%), ready-to-eat salad mixes (7.1%) and human stool (1.7%). A. butzleri was the most frequently isolated species (n = 192; 92.3%), followed by A. cryaerophilus (n = 16; 7.7%). Arcobacter spp. antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed unimodally distributed aggregated minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for gentamicin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin and erythromycin. However, a bimodal distribution for azithromycin was found with 96.2% of determined MICs above the epidemiological cut-off value (ECOFF) defined for Campylobacter jejuni (0.25 µg/ml). Majority of the Arcobacter isolates (n = 187; 89.9%) showed high susceptibility to ciprofloxacin with MICs below or equal to the ECOFF value of 0.5 µg/ml. The putative virulence genes cadF (100%), ciaB (100%), cj1349 (99%), tlyA (99%), mviN (97.9%) and pldA (95.8%) were the predominant genes detected among A. butzleri isolates. In contrast, the mviN and ciaB genes were present in all, whereas cj1349 (12.5%), tlyA (25%) and hecA (12.5%) were only detected in few A. cryaerophilus isolates.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that food products and environmental water in Lithuania are frequently contaminated with Arcobacter spp. that carry multiple putative virulence genes. Furthermore, A. butzleri were isolated from 1.7% of inpatients. Fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides were found to be more effective against Arcobacter in comparison to other antimicrobial agents. However, further studies are needed to determine the pathogenic mechanisms and factors that facilitate the spread of Arcobacter infections.

Arcobacter vandammei sp. nov., isolated from the rectal mucus of a healthy pig

A study on the polyphasic taxonomic classification of an Arcobacter strain, R-73987^T, isolated from the rectal mucus of a porcine intestinal tract, was performed. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain could be assigned to the genus Arcobacter and suggested that strain R-73987^T belongs to a novel undescribed species. Comparative analysis of the rpoB gene sequence confirmed the findings. Arcobacter faecis LMG 28519^T was identified as its closest neighbour in a multigene analysis based on 107 protein- encoding genes. Further, whole-genome sequence comparisons by means of average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization between the genome of strain R-73987^T and the genomes of validly named Arcobacter species resulted in values below 95-96 and 70  %, respectively. In addition, a phenotypic analysis further corroborated the conclusion that strain R-73987^T represents a novel Arcobacter species, for which the name Arcobacter vandammei sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R-73987^T (=LMG 31429^T=CCUG 75005^T). This appears to be the first Arcobacter species recovered from porcine intestinal mucus.

Growth faltering regardless of chronic diarrhea is associated with mucosal immune dysfunction and microbial dysbiosis in the gut lumen

Despite the impact of childhood diarrhea on morbidity and mortality, our understanding of its sequelae has been significantly hampered by the lack of studies that examine samples across the entire intestinal tract. Infant rhesus macaques are naturally susceptible to human enteric pathogens and recapitulate the hallmarks of diarrheal disease such as intestinal inflammation and growth faltering. Here, we examined intestinal biopsies, lamina propria leukocytes, luminal contents, and fecal samples from healthy infants and those experiencing growth faltering with distant acute or chronic active diarrhea. We show that growth faltering in the presence or absence of active diarrhea is associated with a heightened systemic and mucosal pro-inflammatory state centered in the colon. Moreover, polyclonal stimulation of colonic lamina propria leukocytes resulted in a dampened cytokine response, indicative of immune exhaustion. We also detected a functional and taxonomic shift in the luminal microbiome across multiple gut sites including the migration of Streptococcus and Prevotella species between the small and large intestine, suggesting a decompartmentalization of gut microbial communities. Our studies provide valuable insight into the outcomes of diarrheal diseases and growth faltering not attainable in humans and lays the groundwork to test interventions in a controlled and reproducible setting.

Genome-wide insights into population structure and host specificity of Campylobacter jejuni

The zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter jejuni is among the leading causes of foodborne diseases worldwide. While C. jejuni colonises many wild animals and livestock, persistence mechanisms enabling the bacterium to adapt to host species' guts are not fully understood. In order to identify putative determinants influencing host preferences of distinct lineages, bootstrapping based on stratified random sampling combined with a k-mer-based genome-wide association was conducted on 490 genomes from diverse origins in Germany and Canada. We show a strong association of both the core and the accessory genome characteristics with distinct host animal species, indicating multiple adaptive trajectories defining the evolution of C. jejuni lifestyle preferences in different ecosystems. Here, we demonstrate that adaptation towards a specific host niche ecology is most likely a long evolutionary and multifactorial process, expressed by gene absence or presence and allele variations of core genes. Several host-specific allelic variants from different phylogenetic backgrounds, including dnaE, rpoB, ftsX or pycB play important roles for genome maintenance and metabolic pathways. Thus, variants of genes important for C. jejuni to cope with specific ecological niches or hosts may be useful markers for both surveillance and future pathogen intervention strategies.

Genetic characterisation of Campylobacter concisus: Strategies for improved genomospecies discrimination

Although at least two genetically distinct groups, or genomospecies, have been well documented for Campylobacter concisus, no phenotype has yet been identified for their differentiation and thus formal description as separate species. C. concisus has been isolated from a variety of sites in the human body, including saliva and stool samples from both healthy and diarrhoeic individuals. We evaluated the ability of a range of whole genome-based tools to distinguish between the two C. concisus genomospecies (GS) using a collection of 190 C. concisus genomes. Nine genomes from related Campylobacter species were included in some analyses to provide context. Analyses incorporating sequence analysis of multiple ribosomal genes generated similar levels of C. concisus GS discrimination as genome-wide comparisons. The C. concisus genomes formed two groups; GS1 represented by ATCC 33237^T and GS2 by CCUG 19995. The two C. concisus GS were separated from the nine genomes of related species. GS1 and GS2 also differed in G+C content with medians of 37.56% and 39.51%, respectively. The groups are consistent with previously established GS and are supported by DNA reassociation results. Average Nucleotide Identity using MUMmer (ANIm) and Genome BLAST Distance Phylogeny generated in silico DNA-DNA hybridisation (isDDH) (against ATCC 33237^T and CCUG 19995), plus G+C content provides cluster-independent GS discrimination suitable for routine use. Pan-genomic analysis identified genes specific to GS1 and GS2. WGS data and genomic species identification methods support the existence of two GS within C. concisus. These data provide genome-level metrics for strain identification to genomospecies level.

Diagnostic approach for detection and identification of emerging enteric pathogens revisited: the (Ali)arcobacter lanthieri case

An immunocompetent patient without a history of recent travel or animal exposure developed persistent abdominal bloating and cramps without diarrhoea or fever. Negative additional investigations excluded gastritis, infectious colitis, inflammatory bowel disease and neoplasia, but routine stool culture detected a Campylobacter-like organism. The isolate was obtained with use of a polycarbonate filter technique, emphasizing the importance of culture to support and validate the occurrence of emerging and new bacterial enteric pathogens. The ensuing extensive laboratory examinations proved challenging in identifying this potential pathogen. Phylogenetic marker analysis based on the 16S ribosomal RNA and rpoB gene sequences revealed that the isolate was most closely related to Arcobacter lanthieri and Arcobacter faecis. Subsequent analysis of a draft whole genome sequence assigned the isolate to A. lanthieri. We report the presence of five virulence genes, cadF, ciaB, mviN, hecA and iroE, indicating a possible pathogenic nature of this organism. This case demonstrated the importance of the use of agnostic methods for the detection of emerging pathogens in cases of enteric disease with a wide array of gastrointestinal symptoms.

Performance and Application of 16S rRNA Gene Cycle Sequencing for Routine Identification of Bacteria in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

This review provides a state-of-the-art description of the performance of Sanger cycle sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for routine identification of bacteria in the clinical microbiology laboratory. A detailed description of the technology and current methodology is outlined with a major focus on proper data analyses and interpretation of sequences. The remainder of the article is focused on a comprehensive evaluation of the application of this method for identification of bacterial pathogens based on analyses of 16S multialignment sequences. In particular, the existing limitations of similarity within 16S for genus- and species-level differentiation of clinically relevant pathogens and the lack of sequence data currently available in public databases is highlighted. A multiyear experience is described of a large regional clinical microbiology service with direct 16S broad-range PCR followed by cycle sequencing for direct detection of pathogens in appropriate clinical samples. The ability of proteomics (matrix-assisted desorption ionization-time of flight) versus 16S sequencing for bacterial identification and genotyping is compared. Finally, the potential for whole-genome analysis by next-generation sequencing (NGS) to replace 16S sequencing for routine diagnostic use is presented for several applications, including the barriers that must be overcome to fully implement newer genomic methods in clinical microbiology. A future challenge for large clinical, reference, and research laboratories, as well as for industry, will be the translation of vast amounts of accrued NGS microbial data into convenient algorithm testing schemes for various applications (i.e., microbial identification, genotyping, and metagenomics and microbiome analyses) so that clinically relevant information can be reported to physicians in a format that is understood and actionable. These challenges will not be faced by clinical microbiologists alone but by every scientist involved in a domain where natural diversity of genes and gene sequences plays a critical role in disease, health, pathogenicity, epidemiology, and other aspects of life-forms. Overcoming these challenges will require global multidisciplinary efforts across fields that do not normally interact with the clinical arena to make vast amounts of sequencing data clinically interpretable and actionable at the bedside.

Detection of Arcobacter species in different intestinal compartments of broiler chicken during slaughter and processing

Arcobacter spp. are commonly present on meat products. However, the source of contamination on chicken meat is under dispute. Since different studies reported contradictory results on the occurrence of Arcobacter spp. inside the intestinal tract of chicken, our study examined four intestinal compartments at four significant production steps during broiler slaughter and processing in the slaughterhouse. Altogether, 157 intestinal tracts from 19 flocks were examined qualitatively and semiquantitatively applying a selective enrichment. Further verification was performed by mPCR and rpoB sequencing. Arcobacter spp. were only detected sporadically in intestinal contents after bleeding (2/32) and in none after scalding (0/32). After defeathering, Arcobacter spp. were detected in 62% (18/29) of the intestinal contents with 28% (8/29) of the duodenal, 21% (6/29) of the jejunal, 3% (1/29) of the cecal, and 55% (16/29) of the colonic samples tested positive with loads up to 24,000 MPN/g in the colonic content. Further 88% (7/8) of colonic tissue samples were tested positive. After evisceration, the prevalences (58/64) and loads of Arcobacter spp. display comparable levels in the intestinal contents like after defeathering. In conclusion, our data point out that Arcobacter spp. are most likely detected in the colonic intestinal compartment of the chicken after defeathering and evisceration. Therefore, not only cross-contamination originating from the environment inside the slaughterhouse may cause carcass contamination with Arcobacter spp. on broiler chicken carcasses. The detection of Arcobacter spp. in duodenal and jejunal contents as well as in the colonic tissue indicates that there possibly exists an Arcobacter reservoir inside the chicken.

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Arcobacter species in human stool samples derived from out- and inpatients: the prospective German Arcobacter prevalence study Arcopath

Background

Arcobacter species, particularly A. butzleri, but also A. cryaerophilus constitute emerging pathogens causing gastroenteritis in humans. However, isolation of Arcobacter may often fail during routine diagnostic procedures due to the lack of standard protocols. Furthermore, defined breakpoints for the interpretation of antimicrobial susceptibilities of Arcobacter are missing. Hence, reliable epidemiological data of human Arcobacter infections are scarce and lacking for Germany. We therefore performed a 13-month prospective Arcobacter prevalence study in German patients.

Results

A total of 4636 human stool samples was included and Arcobacter spp. were identified from 0.85% of specimens in 3884 outpatients and from 0.40% of specimens in 752 hospitalized patients. Overall, A. butzleri was the most prevalent species (n = 24; 67%), followed by A. cryaerophilus (n = 10; 28%) and A. lanthieri (n = 2; 6%). Whereas A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus and A. lanthieri were identified in outpatients, only A. butzleri could be isolated from samples of hospitalized patients. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Arcobacter isolates revealed high susceptibilities to ciprofloxacin, whereas bimodal distributions of MICs were observed for azithromycin and ampicillin.

Conclusions

In summary, Arcobacter including A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus and A. lanthieri could be isolated in 0.85% of German outpatients and ciprofloxacin rather than other antibiotics might be appropriate for antibiotic treatment of infections. Further epidemiological studies are needed, however, to provide a sufficient risk assessment of Arcobacter infections in humans.

Minimal standards for describing new species belonging to the families Campylobacteraceae and Helicobacteraceae: Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Helicobacter and Wolinella spp

Ongoing changes in taxonomic methods, and in the rapid development of the taxonomic structure of species assigned to the Epsilonproteobacteria have lead the International Committee of Systematic Bacteriology Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of Campylobacter and Related Bacteria to discuss significant updates to previous minimal standards for describing new species of Campylobacteraceae and Helicobacteraceae. This paper is the result of these discussions and proposes minimum requirements for the description of new species belonging to the families Campylobacteraceae and Helicobacteraceae, thus including species in Campylobacter, Arcobacter, Helicobacter, and Wolinella. The core underlying principle remains the use of appropriate phenotypic and genotypic methods to characterise strains sufficiently so as to effectively and unambiguously determine their taxonomic position in these families, and provide adequate means by which the new taxon can be distinguished from extant species and subspecies. This polyphasic taxonomic approach demands the use of appropriate reference data for comparison to ensure the novelty of proposed new taxa, and the recommended study of at least five strains to enable species diversity to be assessed. Methodological approaches for phenotypic and genotypic (including whole-genome sequence comparisons) characterisation are recommended.

Genetic diversity of Arcobacter isolated from bivalves of Adriatic and their interactions with Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes

The human food-borne pathogens Arcobacter butzleri and A. cryaerophilus have been frequently isolated from the intestinal tracts and fecal samples of different farm animals and, after excretion, these microorganisms can contaminate the environment, including the aquatic one. In this regard, A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus have been detected in seawater and bivalves of coastal areas which are affected by fecal contamination. The capability of bivalve hemocytes to interact with bacteria has been proposed as the main factor inversely conditioning their persistence in the bivalve. In this study, 12 strains of Arcobacter spp. were isolated between January and May 2013 from bivalves of Central Adriatic Sea of Italy in order to examine their genetic diversity as well as in vitro interactions with bivalve components of the immune response, such as hemocytes. Of these, seven isolates were A. butzleri and five A. cryaerophilus, and were genetically different. All strains showed ability to induce spreading and respiratory burst of Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes. Overall, our data demonstrate the high genetic diversity of these microorganisms circulating in the marine study area. Moreover, the Arcobacter-bivalve interaction suggests that they do not have a potential to persist in the tissues of M. galloprovincialis.

Occurrence of Arcobacter spp. and correlation with the bacterial indicator of faecal contamination Escherichia coli in bivalve molluscs from the Central Adriatic, Italy

A total of 162 samples of bivalve molluscs (45 mussels and 117 clams) collected between December 2012 and 2014 from harvesting areas of the Central Adriatic were analysed by a culturing method for the presence of Arcobacter spp. Species identification was performed by PCR and sequencing analysis of a fragment of the rpoB gene. Overall, Arcobacter species were detected in 30% of samples, specifically 33% clams and 22% mussels. A. butzleri was the most common species (20% of the samples), followed by A. cryaerophilus (9%) and A. skirrowii (1%). A seasonal association of A. butzleri contamination was detected. A. butzleri was significantly more commonly recovered from samples collected during the winter-spring period (29%) than from those of the summer-autumn (8%). A. cryaerophilus was cultured from 6% to 11% of the samples collected in summer-autumn and winter-spring, respectively, but these differences were not statistically significant. A. skirrowii was recovered from a sample of mussels harvested in May 2014. To identify associations between the occurrence of Arcobacter spp. and E. coli levels, samples were divided into groups generating results with E. coli at >230MPN/100g and E. coli at ≤230MPN/100g, the latter corresponding to EU microbiological criteria allowed for live bivalve molluscs at retail level. A. butzleri was significantly more commonly detected in samples with higher E. coli levels (48%) than in those with lower levels of E. coli (10%), providing evidence for considering E. coli as an index organism for A. butzleri contamination in bivalve molluscs.

Campylobacter

Campylobacter continues to be one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illness in the United States and worldwide. Infection with Campylobacter causes a spectrum of diseases including acute enteritis, extraintestinal infections, and postinfectious complications. The most common species of Campylobacter associated with human illness is Campylobacter jejuni, but other Campylobacter species can also cause human infections. This comprehensive review includes discussion of the taxonomy, clinical manifestations of infection, epidemiology and the different methods of laboratory detection of Campylobacter.

Identification, characterization and description of Arcobacter faecis sp. nov., isolated from a human waste septic tank

A study on the taxonomic classification of Arcobacter species was performed on the cultures isolated from various fecal sources where an Arcobacter strain AF1078(T) from human waste septic tank near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Genetic investigations including 16S rRNA, atpA, cpn60, gyrA, gyrB and rpoB gene sequences of strain AF1078(T) are unique in comparison with other arcobacters. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain is most closely related to Arcobacter lanthieri and Arcobacter cibarius. Analyses of atpA, cpn60, gyrA, gyrB and rpoB gene sequences suggested that strain AF1078(T) formed a phylogenetic lineage independent of other species in the genus. Whole-genome sequence, DNA-DNA hybridization, fatty acid profile and phenotypic analysis further supported the conclusion that strain AF1078(T) represents a novel Arcobacter species, for which the name Arcobacter faecis sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain AF1078(T) (=LMG 28519(T); CCUG 66484(T)).

Molecular tools for the selective detection of nine diatom species biomarkers of various water quality levels

Our understanding of the composition of diatom communities and their response to environmental changes is currently limited by laborious taxonomic identification procedures. Advances in molecular technologies are expected to contribute more efficient, robust and sensitive tools for the detection of these ecologically relevant microorganisms. There is a need to explore and test phylogenetic markers as an alternative to the use of rRNA genes, whose limited sequence divergence does not allow the accurate discrimination of diatoms at the species level. In this work, nine diatom species belonging to eight genera, isolated from epylithic environmental samples collected in central Italy, were chosen to implement a panel of diatoms covering the full range of ecological status of freshwaters. The procedure described in this work relies on the PCR amplification of specific regions in two conserved diatom genes, elongation factor 1-a (eEF1-a) and silicic acid transporter (SIT), as a first step to narrow down the complexity of the targets, followed by microarray hybridization experiments. Oligonucleotide probes with the potential to discriminate closely related species were designed taking into account the genetic polymorphisms found in target genes. These probes were tested, refined and validated on a small-scale prototype DNA chip. Overall, we obtained 17 highly specific probes targeting eEF1-a and SIT, along with 19 probes having lower discriminatory power recognizing at the same time two or three species. This basic array was validated in a laboratory setting and is ready for tests with crude environmental samples eventually to be scaled-up to include a larger panel of diatoms. Its possible use for the simultaneous detection of diatoms selected from the classes of water quality identified by the European Water Framework Directive is discussed.

Arcobacter lanthieri sp. nov., isolated from pig and dairy cattle manure

A study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and diversity of species of the genus Arcobacter in pig and dairy cattle manure, which led to the identification of strains AF1440T, AF1430 and AF1581. Initially identified as Arcobacter butzleri based on colony morphology and initial PCR-confirmation tests, analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences of these strains confirmed that they belonged to the genus Arcobacter and were different from all known species of the genus. The isolates formed a distinct group within the genus Arcobacter based on their 16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoB, cpn60, gyrA and atpA gene sequences and fatty acid profiles. Their unique species status was further supported by physiological properties and DNA-DNA hybridization that allowed phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of the strains from other species of the genus Arcobacter. The isolates were found to be oxidase, catalase and esterase positive and urease negative; they grew well at 30 °C under microaerophilic conditions and produced nitrite and acetoin. Based on their common origin and various physiological properties, it is proposed that the isolates are classified as members of a novel species with the name Arcobacter lanthieri sp. nov. The type strain is AF1440T ( = LMG 28516T = CCUG 66485T); strains AF1430 ( = LMG 28515 = CCUG 66486) and AF1581 ( = LMG 28517 = CCUG 66487) are reference strains.

Understanding molecular identification and polyphasic taxonomic approaches for genetic relatedness and phylogenetic relationships of microorganisms

The major proportion of earth's biological diversity is inhabited by microorganisms and they play a useful role in diversified environments. However, taxonomy of microorganisms is progressing at a snail's pace, thus less than 1% of the microbial population has been identified so far. The major problem associated with this is due to a lack of uniform, reliable, advanced, and common to all practices for microbial identification and systematic studies. However, recent advances have developed many useful techniques taking into account the house-keeping genes as well as targeting other gene catalogues (16S rRNA, rpoA, rpoB, gyrA, gyrB etc. in case of bacteria and 26S, 28S, β-tubulin gene in case of fungi). Some uncultivable approaches using much advanced techniques like flow cytometry and gel based techniques have also been used to decipher microbial diversity. However, all these techniques have their corresponding pros and cons. In this regard, a polyphasic taxonomic approach is advantageous because it exploits simultaneously both conventional as well as molecular identification techniques. In this review, certain aspects of the merits and limitations of different methods for molecular identification and systematics of microorganisms have been discussed. The major advantages of the polyphasic approach have also been described taking into account certain groups of bacteria as case studies to arrive at a consensus approach to microbial identification.

Isolation of a Campylobacter lanienae-like bacterium from laboratory chinchillas (Chinchilla laniger)

Routine necropsies of 27 asymptomatic juvenile chinchillas revealed a high prevalence of gastric ulcers with microscopic lymphoplasmacytic gastroenteritis and typhlocolitis. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis using Campylobacter genus-specific partial 16S rRNA primers revealed the presence of Campylobacter spp. DNA in the faeces of 12 of 27 animals (44.4%). Species-specific partial 16S rRNA PCR and sequencing confirmed that these animals were colonized with Campylobacter lanienae, a gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium that was first identified on routine faecal screening of slaughterhouse employees and subsequently isolated from faeces of livestock. Campylobacter lanienae was isolated from the faeces of six PCR-positive animals and identified with species-specific PCR and full 16S rRNA sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these isolates clustered with C. lanienae strain NCTC 13004. PCR analysis of DNA extracted from gastrointestinal tissues revealed the presence of C. lanienae DNA in the caecum and colon of these chinchillas. Gastrointestinal lesions were scored and compared between C. lanienae-positive and C. lanienae-negative animals. There was no correlation between colonization status and lesion severity in the stomach, liver, duodenum, or colon. Possible routes of C. lanienae infection in chinchillas could include waterborne transmission and faecal-oral transmission from wild mice and rats or livestock. Based on these findings, the authors conclude that C. lanienae colonizes the lower bowel of chinchillas in the absence of clinical disease. This is the first report of C. lanienae in any rodent species. Campylobacter lanienae isolates from different mammalian species demonstrate heterogeneity by 16S rRNA sequence comparison. Analysis using rpoB suggests that isolates and clones currently identified as C. lanienae may represent multiple species or subspecies.

Follow-up of 100 dogs with acute diarrhoea in a primary care practice

This study aimed to examine the aetiology of acute diarrhoea and the relapse rate in 100 client-owned dogs presented to a first-opinion clinic. History, physical examination, faecal testing and owner questionnaire data were collected at initial presentation (T0) and at either the time of relapse or at a recheck performed within 3 months. All dogs received treatment according to their clinical signs. Of 96 dogs that completed the study, 37 (38.5%) relapsed during the study period, 21 (21.9%) relapsed within 3 months, and 16 others (16.6%) at 3 months to 1 year after initial examination. Dogs that had undergone a change in housing location within 1 month prior to presentation and dogs <1 year old were significantly more likely to have positive parasitological analyses (P=0.02 and P=0.001, respectively). Pica was a risk factor for relapse (P=0.0002).

Comprehensive genomic characterization of campylobacter genus reveals some underlying mechanisms for its genomic diversification

Campylobacter species.are phenotypically diverse in many aspects including host habitats and pathogenicities, which demands comprehensive characterization of the entire Campylobacter genus to study their underlying genetic diversification. Up to now, 34 Campylobacter strains have been sequenced and published in public databases, providing good opportunity to systemically analyze their genomic diversities. In this study, we first conducted genomic characterization, which includes genome-wide alignments, pan-genome analysis, and phylogenetic identification, to depict the genetic diversity of Campylobacter genus. Afterward, we improved the tetranucleotide usage pattern-based naïve Bayesian classifier to identify the abnormal composition fragments (ACFs, fragments with significantly different tetranucleotide frequency profiles from its genomic tetranucleotide frequency profiles) including horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) to explore the mechanisms for the genetic diversity of this organism. Finally, we analyzed the HGTs transferred via bacteriophage transductions. To our knowledge, this study is the first to use single nucleotide polymorphism information to construct liable microevolution phylogeny of 21 Campylobacter jejuni strains. Combined with the phylogeny of all the collected Campylobacter species based on genome-wide core gene information, comprehensive phylogenetic inference of all 34 Campylobacter organisms was determined. It was found that C. jejuni harbors a high fraction of ACFs possibly through intraspecies recombination, whereas other Campylobacter members possess numerous ACFs possibly via intragenus recombination. Furthermore, some Campylobacter strains have undergone significant ancient viral integration during their evolution process. The improved method is a powerful tool for bacterial genomic analysis. Moreover, the findings would provide useful information for future research on Campylobacter genus.

The occurrence of Campylobacter in river water and waterfowl within a watershed in southern Ontario, Canada

AIMS

Quantitative PCR and a culture method were used to investigate Campylobacter occurrence over 3 years in a watershed located in southern Ontario, Canada that is used as a source of drinking water.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Direct DNA extraction from river water followed by quantitative PCR analysis detected thermophilic campylobacters at low concentrations (<130 cells 100 ml(-1) ) in 57-79% of samples taken from five locations. By comparison, a culture-based method detected Campylobacter in 0-23% of samples. Water quality parameters such as total Escherichia coli were not highly correlated with Campylobacter levels, although higher pathogen concentrations were observed at colder water temperatures (<10°C). Strains isolated from river water were primarily nalidixic acid-susceptible Campylobacter lari, and selected isolates were identified as Campylobacter lari ssp. concheus. Campylobacter from wild birds (seagulls, ducks and geese) were detected at a similar rate using PCR (32%) and culture-based (29%) methods, and although Campylobacter jejuni was isolated most frequently, C. lari ssp. concheus was also detected.

CONCLUSIONS

Campylobacter were frequently detected at low concentrations in the watershed. Higher prevalence rates using quantitative PCR was likely because of the formation of viable but nonculturable cells and low recovery of the culture method. In addition to animal and human waste, waterfowl can be an important contributor of Campylobacter in the environment.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Results of this study show that Campylobacter in surface water can be an important vector for human disease transmission and that method selection is important in determining pathogen occurrence in a water environment.

Campylobacter bacteriophages and bacteriophage therapy

Members of the genus Campylobacter are frequently responsible for human enteric disease with occasionally very serious outcomes. Much of this disease burden is thought to arise from consumption of contaminated poultry products. More than 80% of poultry in the UK harbour Campylobacter as a part of their intestinal flora. To address this unacceptably high prevalence, various interventions have been suggested and evaluated. Among these is the novel approach of using Campylobacter-specific bacteriophages, which are natural predators of the pathogen. To optimize their use as therapeutic agents, it is important to have a comprehensive understanding of the bacteriophages that infect Campylobacter, and how they can affect their host bacteria. This review will focus on many aspects of Campylobacter-specific bacteriophages including: their first isolation in the 1960s, their use in bacteriophage typing schemes, their isolation from the different biological sources and genomic characterization. As well as their use as therapeutic agents to reduce Campylobacter in poultry their future potential, including their use in bio-sanitization of food, will be explored. The evolutionary consequences of naturally occurring bacteriophage infection that have come to light through investigations of bacteriophages in the poultry ecosystem will also be discussed.

Campylobacter troglodytis sp. nov., isolated from feces of human-habituated wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) in Tanzania

The transmission of simian immunodeficiency and Ebola viruses to humans in recent years has heightened awareness of the public health significance of zoonotic diseases of primate origin, particularly from chimpanzees. In this study, we analyzed 71 fecal samples collected from 2 different wild chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) populations with different histories in relation to their proximity to humans. Campylobacter spp. were detected by culture in 19/56 (34%) group 1 (human habituated for research and tourism purposes at Mahale Mountains National Park) and 0/15 (0%) group 2 (not human habituated but propagated from an introduced population released from captivity over 30 years ago at Rubondo Island National Park) chimpanzees, respectively. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, all isolates were virtually identical (at most a single base difference), and the chimpanzee isolates were most closely related to Campylobacter helveticus and Campylobacter upsaliensis (94.7% and 95.9% similarity, respectively). Whole-cell protein profiling, amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis of genomic DNA, hsp60 sequence analysis, and determination of the mol% G+C content revealed two subgroups among the chimpanzee isolates. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments confirmed that both subgroups represented distinct genomic species. In the absence of differential biochemical characteristics and morphology and identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, we propose to classify all isolates into a single novel nomenspecies, Campylobacter troglodytis, with strain MIT 05-9149 as the type strain; strain MIT 05-9157 is suggested as the reference strain for the second C. troglodytis genomovar. Further studies are required to determine whether the organism is pathogenic to chimpanzees and whether this novel Campylobacter colonizes humans and causes enteric disease.

Genotype and antibiotic resistance analyses of Campylobacter isolates from ceca and carcasses of slaughtered broiler flocks

To obtain genetic information about Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli from broilers and carcasses at slaughterhouses, we analyzed and compared 340 isolates that were collected in 2008 from the cecum right after slaughter or from the neck skin after processing. We performed rpoB sequence-based identification, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and flaB sequence-based typing; we additionally analyzed mutations within the 23S rRNA and gyrA genes that confer resistance to macrolide and quinolone antibiotics, respectively. The rpoB-based identification resulted in a distribution of 72.0% C. jejuni and 28.0% C. coli. The MLST analysis revealed that there were 59 known sequence types (STs) and 6 newly defined STs. Most of the STs were grouped into 4 clonal complexes (CC) that are typical for poultry (CC21, CC45, CC257, and CC828), and these represented 61.8% of all of the investigated isolates. The analysis of 95 isolates from the cecum and from the corresponding carcass neck skin covered 44 different STs, and 54.7% of the pairs had matching genotypes. The data indicate that cross-contamination from various sources during slaughter may occur, although the majority of Campylobacter contamination on carcasses appeared to originate from the slaughtered flock itself. Mutations in the 23S rRNA gene were found in 3.1% of C. coli isolates, although no mutations were found in C. jejuni isolates. Mutations in the gyrA gene were observed in 18.9% of C. jejuni and 26.8% of C. coli isolates, which included two C. coli strains that carried mutations conferring resistance to both classes of antibiotics. A relationship between specific genotypes and antibiotic resistance/susceptibility was observed.

Rapid detection and differentiation of Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Campylobacter lari in food, using multiplex real-time PCR

A multiplex real-time PCR assay based on four differently labeled TaqMan probes for detection and differentiation of the thermophilic Campylobacter species C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari was established and validated in food products. This assay combines two previously published PCR assays for C. jejuni and C. coli with a newly developed detection assay for C. lari and an internal amplification control system. The selectivity of the method was determined by analyzing 70 Campylobacter strains and 43 strains of other bacteria. The sensitivity was 50 fg of C. jejuni and C. lari DNA and 500 fg of C. coli DNA per PCR. It was possible to detect 1 to 10 CFU/25 g of food before preenrichment of all three species. More than 400 samples of various foods (poultry, seafood, and meat) were analyzed after 48 h of preenrichment parallel to the conventional diagnostic method of culture and biochemical identification. Using the established real-time PCR assay, 55.4% of the samples were recognized as positive for thermophilic Campylobacter species, whereas with the conventional method only 40.3% of the samples were positive. The real-time PCR assay also detected contaminations with two different Campylobacter species in 32.6% of the analyzed poultry samples, a finding of epidemiological interest. Compared with the original PCR method, which was established for the differentiation of bacterial isolates of C. jejuni and C. coli, this new method also detects and distinguishes C. lari, was validated as an analytical tool for food analysis, and provides reliable and extensive results within 2 days.

Identification of oral species of the genus Veillonella by polymerase chain reaction

INTRODUCTION

Members of the genus Veillonella cannot be reliably distinguished by their biochemical characteristics and phenotypic features. Moreover, DNA-DNA hybridization and sequence analyses of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene including random fragment length polymorphism analysis, are complex and time-consuming procedures that are not well-suited to identifying oral species of Veillonella: Veillonella atypica, Veillonella denticariosi, Veillonella dispar, Veillonella parvula, and Veillonella rogosae.

METHODS

In this study, five forward primers and a reverse primer were designed for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) according to the partial sequences of the rpoB genes of these oral Veillonella species.

RESULTS

The forward primers were species-specific for these five Veillonella species, and could produce specific amplicons when used together with reverse primer and individual DNA templates of these species in PCR. These primer pairs were also found to discriminate between the respective species, and the Veillonella strains isolated from human oral cavities were successfully assigned to one of the five oral species of the genus Veillonella based on their specific products by PCR.

CONCLUSION

A simple two-step PCR procedure using the five sets of primer pairs developed in the present study is a rapid and reliable method for the identification of the recognized oral Veillonella species.

Arcobacter mytili sp. nov., an indoxyl acetate-hydrolysis-negative bacterium isolated from mussels

Three Arcobacter isolates, recovered from mussels (genus Mytilus), and one isolate from brackish water in Catalonia (north-east Spain) showed a novel pattern using a recently described identification method for members of the genus Arcobacter, 16S rRNA gene RFLP. Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR fingerprinting demonstrated that the three isolates from mussels belonged to two genotypes and that the fourth isolate from water belonged to a third genotype. Analysis of the 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequences showed that the new isolates formed a separate lineage within the genus Arcobacter. This was also confirmed by the low DNA-DNA relatedness values (16-30 %) of the isolates with the type strains of recognized Arcobacter species. Hydrolysis of indoxyl acetate, a characteristic trait for all species of the genus Arcobacter, was negative for the novel isolates. The susceptibility of the novel isolates to cefoperazone, together with the lack of urease production and nitrate reduction, further enabled them to be differentiated from recognized Arcobacter species based on physiological characteristics. Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics indicated that the new isolates represent a novel species of the genus Arcobacter, for which the name Arcobacter mytili sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain F2075(T) (=CECT 7386(T) =LMG 24559(T)). The DNA G+C content of strain F2075(T) was 26.9 mol%.

Campylobacter avium sp. nov., a hippurate-positive species isolated from poultry

Three strains of an unusual hippurate-positive Campylobacter species were isolated at 37 degrees C from caecal contents of broiler chickens and a turkey. All strains were initially identified as Campylobacter by means of genus-specific PCR, but none was further identified using specific PCRs for known thermophilic species. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA, rpoB and groEL gene sequences revealed that these strains formed a robust clade distinct from other Campylobacter species. Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis and whole-cell protein electrophoresis were subsequently carried out and confirmed the divergence between the avian strains and other taxa. These data indicate that the unidentified Campylobacter strains belong to a novel taxon which could be distinguished from other campylobacters through its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The name Campylobacter avium sp. nov., is proposed for the novel species, with the type strain 86/06T (=LMG 24591T=CCUG 56292T).

Campylobacter cuniculorum sp. nov., from rabbits

Eight strains of an unknown thermotolerant Campylobacter species were isolated from the caecal contents of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). All strains were initially identified as belonging to the genus Campylobacter by means of genus-specific PCR, but none were identified using species-specific PCR for known thermophilic species. Cells were spiral shaped with bipolar unsheathed flagella, with no periplasmic fibres, and appeared coccoid after 10-12 days of incubation. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene, rpoB and groEL sequences revealed that all strains formed a robust clade that was very distinct from recognized Campylobacter species. 16S rRNA gene sequence pairwise comparisons of strain 150B(T) with the type strains of other Campylobacter species revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbour was Campylobacter helveticus NCTC 12470(T), with 96.6 % similarity. The uniqueness of these rabbit isolates was confirmed by whole-cell protein electrophoresis. Taken together, these data indicate that the strains belong to a novel Campylobacter species for which the name Campylobacter cuniculorum sp. nov. is proposed, with 150B(T) (=LMG 24588(T) =CCUG 56289(T)) as the type strain.

Multiplex strategy for multilocus sequence typing, fla typing, and genetic determination of antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli isolates collected in Switzerland

We present an optimized multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme with universal primer sets for amplifying and sequencing the seven target genes of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli. Typing was expanded by sequence determination of the genes flaA and flaB using optimized primer sets. This approach is compatible with the MLST and flaA schemes used in the PubMLST database and results in an additional typing method using the flaB gene sequence. An identification module based on the 16S rRNA and rpoB genes was included, as well as the genetic determination of macrolide and quinolone resistances based on mutations in the 23S rRNA and gyrA genes. Experimental procedures were simplified by multiplex PCR of the 13 target genes. This comprehensive approach was evaluated with C. jejuni and C. coli isolates collected in Switzerland. MLST of 329 strains resulted in 72 sequence types (STs) among the 186 C. jejuni strains and 39 STs for the 143 C. coli isolates. Fourteen (19%) of the C. jejuni and 20 (51%) of the C. coli STs had not been found previously. In total, 35% of the C. coli strains collected in Switzerland contained mutations conferring antibiotic resistance only to quinolone, 15% contained mutations conferring resistance only to macrolides, and 6% contained mutations conferring resistance to both classes of antibiotics. In C. jejuni, these values were 31% and 0% for quinolone and macrolide resistance, respectively. The rpoB sequence allowed phylogenetic differentiation between C. coli and C. jejuni, which was not possible by 16S rRNA gene analysis. An online Integrated Database Network System (SmartGene, Zug, Switzerland)-based platform for MLST data analysis specific to Campylobacter was implemented. This Web-based platform allowed automated allele and ST designation, as well as epidemiological analysis of data, thus streamlining and facilitating the analysis workflow. Data networking facilitates the exchange of information between collaborating centers. The described approach simplifies and improves the genotyping of Campylobacter, allowing cost- and time-efficient routine monitoring.

The rpoB gene as a tool for clinical microbiologists

The rpoB gene, encoding the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase, has emerged as a core gene candidate for phylogenetic analyses and identification of bacteria, especially when studying closely related isolates. Together with the 16S rRNA gene, rpoB has helped to delineate new bacterial species and refine bacterial community analysis, as well as enabling the monitoring of rifampicin resistance-conferring mutations. Sequencing of rpoB enables efficient estimation of bacterial G+C% content, DNA-DNA hybridization value and average nucleotide identity (percentage of the total genomic sequence shared between two strains) when taxonomic relationships have been firmly established. New identification tools targeting a rpoB gene fragment located between positions 2300 and 3300 have been developed recently. Therefore, inclusion of the rpoB gene sequence would be useful when describing new bacterial species.

Rapid evolution and the importance of recombination to the gastroenteric pathogen Campylobacter jejuni

Responsible for the majority of bacterial gastroenteritis in the developed world, Campylobacter jejuni is a pervasive pathogen of humans and animals, but its evolution is obscure. In this paper, we exploit contemporary genetic diversity and empirical evidence to piece together the evolutionary history of C. jejuni and quantify its evolutionary potential. Our combined population genetics–phylogenetics approach reveals a surprising picture. Campylobacter jejuni is a rapidly evolving species, subject to intense purifying selection that purges 60% of novel variation, but possessing a massive evolutionary potential. The low mutation rate is offset by a large effective population size so that a mutation at any site can occur somewhere in the population within the space of a week. Recombination has a fundamental role, generating diversity at twice the rate of de novo mutation, and facilitating gene flow between C. jejuni and its sister species Campylobacter coli. We attempt to calibrate the rate of molecular evolution in C. jejuni based solely on within-species variation. The rates we obtain are up to 1,000 times faster than conventional estimates, placing the C. jejuni–C. coli split at the time of the Neolithic revolution. We weigh the plausibility of such recent bacterial evolution against alternative explanations and discuss the evidence required to settle the issue.

Species-specific identification of Campylobacters by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and PCR targeting of the gyrase B gene

PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a 960-bp fragment of the Campylobacter gyrB gene with either DdeI or XspI restriction enzymes generated unique digestion patterns for 12 different Campylobacter species. In addition, PCR assays using species-specific primer sets targeting gyrB were specific for the respective Campylobacter species. Therefore, PCR-RFLP analysis and species-specific PCR assays based on the gyrB gene provide valuable tools for rapid and unambiguous identification of the majority of Campylobacter species.

Campylobacter canadensis sp. nov., from captive whooping cranes in Canada

Ten isolates of an unknown Campylobacter species were isolated from cloacal swabs obtained from captive adult whooping cranes (Grus americana). All isolates were identified as Campylobacter based on generic PCR and grouped with other Campylobacter species based on 23S rRNA gene sequence. None of the isolates could be identified by species-specific PCR for known taxa, and all ten isolates formed a robust clade that was very distinct from known Campylobacter species based on 16S rRNA, rpoB and cpn60 gene sequences. The results of 16S rRNA gene nucleotide sequence (<or=92% sequence similarity to recognized Campylobacter species) and genomic DNA (no detectable relatedness) analyses were consistent with novel species status. Cells of the Campylobacter from whooping cranes were uniflagellar and typically sigmoid to allantoid in shape (0.48 microm wide and 2.61 microm long), but also spheroid to coccoid (0.59 microm wide and 0.73 microm long). The bacterium was oxidase-positive, able to reduce nitrite, able to grow at 3 degrees and 42 degrees C, and grew anaerobically, as well as in an atmosphere devoid of H2, and on MacConkey agar. It was not alpha-haemolytic and was negative for hippurate and indoxyl acetate hydrolysis and alkaline phosphatase. It also was susceptible to cephalotin and was unable to grow on nutrient agar, on a medium containing 3.5% NaCl or in ambient O2. The bacterium was unable to grow at 25 degrees C and growth was negative or very restricted at 30 degrees C. Fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis indicated that nine of the recovered isolates were genetically distinct. A species-specific primer set targeting the cpn60 gene was developed. The name Campylobacter canadensis sp. nov. is proposed for the novel species, with the type strain L266T (=CCUG 54429T=LMG 24001T).

Discovery of insertion element ISCfe1: a new tool for Campylobacter fetus subspecies differentiation

The species Campylobacter fetus is divided into the subspecies C. fetus subsp. venerealis (CFV) and C. fetus subsp. fetus (CFF). CFV is the causative agent of bovine genital campylobacteriosis, a highly contagious venereal disease that may lead to serious reproductive problems, including sterility and abortion. In contrast, CFF can be isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a wide range of host species, is associated with abortion in sheep and cattle, and can also be isolated from local and systemic infections in humans. Despite differences in host and niche preferences, microbiological differentiation of the two subspecies of C. fetus is extremely difficult. This study describes the identification of a new insertion element, ISCfe1, which is present exclusively in CFV strains, with highly conserved specific ISCfe1 insertion sites. The results are useful for identification and differentiation of the two C. fetus subspecies and will help in understanding the evolution and pathogenesis of C. fetus.

Emended description of Actinobacillus capsulatus Arseculeratne 1962, 38AL

The taxonomic position of Actinobacillus capsulatus, a member of the family Pasteurellaceae found in rabbits, hares and hamsters, has been challenged. 16S rRNA gene (rrs) sequence data show the species to be heterogeneous. Using a polyphasic approach, 23 strains that were identified previously as belonging, or closely related, to A. capsulatus were analysed. Eighty characters were included in the phenotypic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis was done based on rrs, rpoB, infB and recN sequences. In addition, the recN sequence similarities were used to calculate the whole-genome sequence relatedness of all strains investigated as well as that with other members of the family Pasteurellaceae. The phenotypic analysis allowed identification of five groups. The major group of 17 strains could be classified as A. capsulatus. Two hamster isolates were closely related to A. capsulatus but differed in a few characters. Single isolates from a rabbit and snowshoe-hare were phenotypically related to Actinobacillus suis. One rabbit isolate was related to the genus Mannheimia, while another isolate could not be classified phenotypically with known taxa. The phylogenetic analysis confirmed the phenotypic grouping. In contrast to the rrs-based tree, the A. capsulatus strains clustered unambiguously with the type species and related species of the genus Actinobacillus in the rpoB-, infB- and recN-based trees. Genome similarity comparison using recN finally confirmed the high genomic relationship of the A. capsulatus strains with the type species and related species of the genus Actinobacillus and allowed a clear assignment of the other unrelated strains to the phenotypic and phylogenetic clusters outlined. The present findings allow the description of A. capsulatus to be emended and separate it more clearly from other species, both phenotypically and genotypically. The type strain of A. capsulatus is CCUG 12396T (=Frederiksen 243T=ATCC 51571T=NCTC 11408T=CIP 103283T).

Genetic relationships of Aeromonas strains inferred from 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoB gene sequences

Genetic relationships among bacterial strains belonging to the genus Aeromonas were inferred from 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoB gene sequences. Twenty-eight type or collection strains of the recognized species or subspecies and 33 Aeromonas strains isolated from human and animal specimens as well as from environmental samples were included in the study. As reported previously, the 16S rRNA gene sequence is highly conserved within the genus Aeromonas, having only limited resolution for this very tight group of species. Analysis of a 1.1 kb gyrB sequence confirmed that this gene has high resolving power, with maximal interspecies divergence of 15.2 %. Similar results were obtained by sequencing only 517 bp of the rpoB gene, which showed maximal interspecies divergence of 13 %. The topologies of the gyrB- and rpoB-derived trees were similar. The results confirm the close relationship of species within the genus Aeromonas and show that a phylogenetic approach including several genes is suitable for improving the complicated taxonomy of the genus.