Phenotypic and phylogenetic characterization of a new Corynebacterium species from dogs: Description of Corynebacterium auriscanis sp nov.

Six strains of a previously undescribed catalase-positive coryneform bacter ium isolated from clinical specimens from dogs were characterized by phenot ypic and molecular genetic methods. Biochemical and chemotaxonomic studies revealed that the unknown bacterium belonged to the genus Corynebacterium s ensu stricto. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the six stra ins were genealogically highly related and constitute a new subline within the genus Corynebacterium; this subline is close to but distinct from C.fal senii, C. jeikeium, and C. urealyticum. The unknown bacterium from dogs was distinguished from all currently validated Corynebacterium species by phen otypic tests including electrophoretic analysis of whole-cell proteins. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as a new species, Corynebacterium auriscani s, The type strain of C. auriscanis is CCUG 39938(T).