title: Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of micro-organism WSU 86-1044 from an aborted bovine foetus reveals that it is a member of the order Chlamydiales: proposal of Waddliaceae fam. nov., Waddlia chondrophila gen. nov., sp. nov.
abstract: The structural gene encoding the 16S rRNA of the new obligate intracellular organism presently designated WSU 86-1044T was sequenced and analysed to establish its phylogenetic relationships. The 16S rDNA sequence was most closely related to those of chlamydial species, having 84.7-85.3% sequence similarity, while it had 72.4-73.2% similarity with rickettsia-like organisms. When the sequences of the four species of chlamydiae (Chlamydophila psittaci, Chlamydia trachomatis, Chlamydophila pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pecorum) were compared, they had > 93% sequence similarity indicating that WSU 86-1044T was not close enough to be in the same family as current Chlamydiaceae members. However, based on the 84.7-85.3% 16S rDNA sequence similarity of WSU 86-1044T and other previously described characteristics, WSU 86-1044T belongs to a novel family within the order Chlamydiales; hence, the proposal of Waddliaceae fam. nov., Waddlia chondrophila gen. nov., sp. nov.
mesh_terms: D000034:Abortion, Veterinary / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002695:Chlamydiales / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000382:microbiology*; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA