Publications

3780

The two most common haemotropic Mycoplasma of cats, Mycoplasma haemofelis and ‘ Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ have been identified using molecular techniques in all continents, except Antarctica. We report the first molecular characterization in South America of a dual infection with M haemofelis and ‘ Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ in three domestic cats. The 16S ribosomal RNA gene was amplified in three anaemic cats in which haemoplasma organisms were seen attached to the erythrocytes in the peripheral blood smear. Bands of the expected size for M haemofelis and ‘ Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ were observed in all three cats. The 393 bp segment of one of the amplicons had a similarity value of 100% to M haemofelis, whereas the other amplicon, a 192 bp segment, was 100% similar to ‘ Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’. After diagnosis, two cats received blood transfusion and they were all treated with doxycycline. All three cats recovered uneventfully.

Novel halophilic, alkalithermophilic, Gram-type-positive bacterial strains were isolated from sediment of alkaline, hypersaline lakes of the Wadi An Natrun, Egypt. Cells of strain JW/NM-WN-LFTwere rod-shaped, non-spore-forming and non-motile. Strain JW/NM-WN-LFTgrew (at pH55 °C 9.5) between 35 and 56 °C, with an optimum at 53 °C. The pH55 °Crange for growth was 8.3–10.6, with an optimum at pH55 °C 9.5 and no growth at pH55 °C 8.2 or below, or at pH55 °C 10.8 or above. At the optimum pH and temperature, the strain grew in the Na+range of 3.1–4.9 M (1.5–3.3 M added NaCl) and optimally between 3.3 and 3.9 M Na+(1.7–2.3 M added NaCl). Strain JW/NM-WN-LFTutilized fructose, cellobiose, ribose, trehalose, trimethylamine, pyruvate, Casamino acids, acetate, xylose and peptone as carbon and energy sources. Fumarate (20 mM), S2O32−(20 mM), NO3−(20 mM) and iron(III) citrate (20 mM) were utilized as electron acceptors. During growth on sucrose, the isolate produced acetate and formate as major fermentation products. Main cellular fatty acids were iso-branched 15 : 0, i17 : 0 dimethylacetal and 16 : 0 dimethylacetal. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 40.4 mol% (HPLC). On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, it is proposed that strain JW/NM-WN-LFTrepresents a novel genus and species,Natranaerobius thermophilusgen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is JW/NM-WN-LFT(=DSM 18059T=ATCC BAA-1301T). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain forms a novel lineage within the class ‘Clostridia’ and clusters with uncultivated bacteria and unidentified strains retrieved from alkaline, hypersaline environments. The phylogenetic data suggest that the lineage represents a novel family,Natranaerobiaceaefam. nov., and order,Natranaerobialesord. nov.