POLYPHASIC TAXONOMY LEADING TO THE PROPOSAL OF MORAXELLA-CANIS SP-NOVFOR MORAXELLA-CATARRHALIS-LIKE STRAINS

The taxonomic position of a group of 16 Moraxella catarrhalis-like str ains, isolated mainly from dogs, was examined by using morphological t ests, biochemical tests, serology, ribotyping with oligonucleotide pro bes, polymerase chain reaction typing of the 16S rRNA gene and the 16S -23S rRNA gene spacer region, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of to tal proteins, fatty acid profiles, moles percent G+C, dot spot and in- solution DNA-DNA hybridizations, and DNA-rRNA hybridizations. It was f ound that these organisms constitute a distinct cluster within the gen us Moraxella. Since they differ genotypically as well as phenotypicall y from previously described Moraxella species, a new species, Moraxell a canis, is proposed to accommodate these isolates. The type strain is LMG 11194 (= N7 = CCUG 8415A).