MORAXELLA-CAPRAE SP-NOV, A NEW MEMBER OF THE CLASSICAL MORAXELLAE WITH VERY CLOSE AFFINITY TO MORAXELLA-BOVIS

Eight phenotypically homogenous Moraxella-like strains were isolated f rom the nasal flora of healthy goats. Total genomic DNA-DNA hybridizat ion, DNA base composition determination, and genetic transformation st udies were performed to determine the relationships of these bacteria to the classical moraxellae. The eight new isolates exhibited very hig h levels of genetic affinity to Moraxella bovis, as shown by quantitat ive and qualitative genetic transformation data, and exhibited high DN A-DNA relative binding ratios to each other (63% or more) but lower le vels of DNA homology with all of the other species investigated, inclu ding the closely related classical moraxellae. Our results, combined w ith the general morphologic and phenotypic profiles of these organisms , indicate that they should be classified with the classical moraxella e, and we propose the name Moraxella caprae for them. Strain 8897 (= C CUG 33297 = NCTC 12877) is the type strain of M. caprae.