ACTINOBACILLUS-SCOTIAE SP. NOV., A NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY PASTEURELLACEAE POHL (1979) 1981 ISOLATED FROM PORPOISES (PHOCOENA-PHOCOENA)

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on a Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from three porpoises. Biochemical and p hysiological studies indicated that the bacterium was related to the f amily Pasteurellaceae. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies co nfirmed these findings and demonstrated that the bacterium represents a hitherto unknown subline. The nearest phylogenetic relative of the u nknown bacterium was Actinobacillus delphinicola, an organism also ori ginating from sea mammals, although a sequence divergence of 3% demons trated that the newly isolated bacterium is a distinct species. On the basis of the results of the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic crit eria, it is proposed that the bacterium should be classified as a new species, Actinobacillus scotiae sp. nov. The type strain of Actinobaci llus scotiae sp. nov. is NCTC 12922(T) (= M2000/95/1(T)).