title: A novel Chlamydiaceae-like bacterium found in faecal specimens from sea birds from the Bering Sea.
abstract: The family Chlamydiaceae contains several bacterial pathogens of important human and veterinary medical concern, such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Chlamydophila psittaci. Within the order Chlamydiales there are also an increasing number of chlamydia-like bacteria whose biodiversity, host range and environmental spread seem to have been largely underestimated, and which are currently being investigated for their potential medical relevance. In this study we present 16S rRNA, rnpB and ompA gene sequence data congruently indicating a novel chlamydia-like bacterium found in faecal specimens from opportunistic fish-eating sea birds, belonging to the Laridae and Alcidae families, from the Bering Sea. This novel bacterium appears to be closer to the Chlamydiaceae than other chlamydia-like bacteria and is most likely a novel genus within the Chlamydiaceae family.
authors.affiliation: Section of Clinical Bacteriology and Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Department of Molecular Evolution, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Bacterial Zoonoses Unit, French Food Safety Agency (AFSSA), Maisons-Alfort, France. Section for Zoonotic Ecology and Epidemiology, University of Kalmar, Kalmar, Sweden. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Norra Älvsborg County Hospital, Trollhättan, Sweden.
authors.forename: Linus
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Christerson
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blomqvist
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grannas
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thollesson
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Laroucau
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Waldenström
authors.forename: Ingvar
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Eliasson
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herrmann