title: Streptococcus castoreus sp. nov., isolated from a beaver (Castor fiber).
abstract: A previously undescribed, Gram-positive, catalase-negative, Streptococcus-like organism originating from a European beaver (Castor fiber) was subjected to a taxonomic study. The organism displayed beta-haemolytic activity and gave a positive reaction with Lancefield group A antisera. Based on the results of biochemical testing, the organism was tentatively identified as a member of the genus Streptococcus, but it did not correspond phenotypically to any recognized species of this genus. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies confirmed this assignment, with the bacterium forming a hitherto unknown subline within the genus. Sequence divergence values of greater than 3 % from other reference streptococcal species, however, demonstrated that the unidentified coccus-shaped organism represents a hitherto unknown species. Based on phenotypic and molecular phylogenetic evidence, it is therefore proposed that the unknown organism from a beaver be classified as a novel species, Streptococcus castoreus sp. nov. The type strain is M605815/03/2(T) (=CCUG 48115(T)=CIP 108205(T)).
authors.affiliation: School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AP, UK.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: SAC Veterinary Services, Inverness, UK.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Culture Collection, Department of Clinical Bacteriology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Enevold
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falsen
authors.affiliation: Culture Collection, Department of Clinical Bacteriology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Susanne J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Markopoulos
authors.affiliation: School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading RG6 6AP, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001733:Bites and Stings / Q000150:complications*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D004285:Dogs; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012377:Rodentia / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S