title: 16S ribosomal DNA sequence-based identification of bacteria in laboratory rodents: a practical approach in laboratory animal bacteriology diagnostics.
abstract: Correct identification of bacteria is crucial for the management of rodent colonies. Some bacteria are difficult to identify phenotypically outside reference laboratories. In this study, we evaluated the utility of 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing as a means of identifying a collection of 30 isolates of rodent origin which are conventionally difficult to identify. Sequence analysis of the first approximate 720 to 880 bp of the 5'- end of 16S rDNA identified 25 isolates (83.33%) with ≥ 99% similarity to a sequence of a type strain, whereas three isolates (10%) displayed a sequence similarity ≥ 97% but <99% to the type strain sequences. These similarity scores were used to define identification to species and genus levels, respectively. Two of the 30 isolates (6.67%) displayed a sequence similarity of ≥ 95 but <97% to the reference strains and were thus allocated to a family. This technique allowed us to document the association of mice with bacteria relevant for the colonies management such as Pasteurellaceae, Bordetella hinzii or Streptococcus danieliae. In addition, human potential pathogens such as Acinetobacter spp., Ochrobactrum anthropi and Paracoccus yeei or others not yet reported in mouse bacterial species such as Leucobacter chironomi, Neisseria perflava and Pantoea dispersa were observed. In conclusion, the sequence analysis of 16S rDNA proved to be a useful diagnostic tool, with higher performance characteristics than the classical phenotypic methods, for identification of laboratory animal bacteria. For the first time this method allowed us to document the association of certain bacterial species with the laboratory mouse.
authors.affiliation: Animal Research Facility, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany Laurentiu.Benga@med.uni-duesseldorf.de.
authors.forename: Laurentiu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benga
authors.affiliation: Animal Research Facility, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: W Peter M
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Benten
authors.affiliation: Animal Research Facility, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
authors.affiliation: Biological and Medical Research Center (BMFZ), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Köhrer
authors.affiliation: Animal Research Facility, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gougoula
authors.affiliation: Animal Research Facility, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, University Hospital, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sager
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory / Q000382:microbiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051379:Mice / Q000382:microbiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
keywords: 16S rDNA; health monitoring; laboratory animals