HELICOBACTER PULLORUM SP-NOV - GENOTYPE AND PHENOTYPE OF A NEW SPECIES ISOLATED FROM POULTRY AND FROM HUMAN PATIENTS WITH GASTROENTERITIS

Campylobacter-like organisms were isolated from the liver, duodenum an d caecum of broiler and layer chickens, and from humans with gastroent eritis. They formed a unique DNA homology group and a polyphasic taxon omic analysis was made of 16 strains. Analysis of the nucleotide seque nce of the 16S rRNA gene from seven of the strains identified them as belonging to a single species, within the genus Helicobacter. This con clusion was supported by the studies of relative DNA homology and of t otal protein electrophoretic patterns. The new species could be bioche mically differentiated from other helicobacters and its ultrastructure in the electron microscope was typical of the genus except that the f lagellum was not sheathed. We propose the name Helicobacter pullorum s p. nov. for this group. Like H. fennelliae or H. cinaedi it represents another non-gastric urease-negative Helicobacter species colonizing t he lower bowel. Its isolation from the livers of chickens with vibrion ic hepatitis is significant. We describe a species-specific PCR assay for H. pullorum sp. nov. which will facilitate its identification of f urther studies of its epidemiology.