title: Multilocus sequence typing analysis ofPseudomonas aeruginosaisolated from pet Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Ocadia sinensis).
abstract: Our research sought to characterize the phylogeny ofPseudomonas aeruginosaisolated from pet Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Ocadia sinensis) to better understand its evolutionary relation to other isolates and increase understanding of a potential zoonotic pathogen transmitted through direct contact with pet turtles. Thirty-onePseudomonas aeruginosaisolates were obtained from both immature and adult turtles sold in pet shops in Korea. To characterize the phylogenic position of Chinese stripe-necked turtle-borneP. aeruginosarelative to other strains, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis was performed due to the accessibility and breadth of MLST databases. Seven housekeeping genes (acsA,aroE,guaA,mutL,nuoD,ppsA, andtrpE) were sequenced and the results were compared with data from the MLST database. The genes were further used for phylogenetic analysis ofP. aeruginosausing concatenated gene fragments. Both rooted and unrooted phylogenetic trees were generated. Eleven distinct sequence types were present within the isolates among which seven were new. Expanding an unrooted phylogenetic tree to includeP. aeruginosaMLST sequences isolated from various other geographic locations and sources revealed a divergent cluster containing the majority of isolates obtained from turtles. This suggests thatP. aeruginosastrains particularly well-adapted for inhabiting turtles occupy a distinct phylogenetic position.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Mitchell
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wendt
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Medical Center and College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Gang-Joon
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Heo
keywords: Chinese stripe-necked turtles (Ocadia sinensis); MLST; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; pet turtles; phylogeny