Campylobacter novaezeelandiae sp. nov., isolated from birds and water in New Zealand.

Bloomfield S., Wilkinson D., Rogers L., Biggs P., French N., Mohan V., Savoian M., Venter P., Midwinter A.. (2020)

International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology

Six isolates of Campylobacter with similar non-standard colonial morphologies were identified during studies isolating Campylobacter from bird faeces and rivers in New Zealand. Genomic (16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole genome analysis) and phenotypic (MALDI-TOF analysis and conventional biochemical tests) showed that the isolates form a monophyletic clade with genetic relationships to Campylobacter coli/Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter peloridis/Campylobacter amoricus. They may be distinguished from other Campylobacter by their MALDI-TOF spectral pattern, their florid a-haemolysis, their ability to grow anaerobically at 37?°C, and on 2?% NaCl nutrient agar, and their lack of hippuricase. This study shows that these isolates represent a novel species within the genus Campylobacter for which the name Campylobacter novaezeelandiae sp. nov. is proposed. The presence of C. novaezeelandiae in water may be a confounder for freshwater microbial risk assessment as they may not be pathogenic for humans. The type strain is B423bT (=NZRM 4741T=ATCC TSD-167T).

International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology

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