MORAXELLA BOEVREI SP-NOV, A NEW MORAXELLA SPECIES FOUND IN GOATS

Six Moraxella-like strains that formed a phenotypically homogeneous gr oup were isolated from the nasal flora of healthy goats, Total genomic DNA-DNA hybridization, rRNA gene restriction pattern, DNA base compos ition, and genetic transformation studies were performed to determine the relationships of these bacteria to species belonging to the genus Moraxella and other fastidious gram-negative species, The new group of isolates was very homogeneous, as shown by rRNA gene restriction frag ment length patterns (ribotyping), and these organisms displayed high relative binding ratios (RBRs) to each other in DNA-DNA hybridization experiments (RBRs, greater than or equal to 58%) but distinctly lower levels of DNA homology with all other species investigated, However, t he RBRs obtained with species of the genus Moraxella were higher than the RBRs obtained with all other gram-negative strains examined, Altho ugh the new strains had most of the Moraxella bovis phenotypic charact eristics except nitrate reduction, quantitative and qualitative geneti c transformation data led to the conclusion that they belong to a dist inct new cluster in the genus Moraxella, The results of this study, co mbined with the general morphological and phenotypic profiles of the n ew strains, are consistent with the creation of a new Moraxella specie s, for which the name Moraxella boevrei is proposed. Strain 88365 (= A TCC 700022 = CCUG 35435 = NCTC 12925 = CIP 104716) is the type strain of M. boevrei.