Campylobacter pylori subsp. mustelae subsp. nov. Isolated from the Gastric Mucosa of Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo), and an Emended Description of Campylobacter pylori

Abstract

The name Campylobacter pylori subsp. mustelae subsp. nov. is proposed for a Campylobacter commonly isolated from normal or inflamed gastric mucosa of ferrets. C. pylori subsp. mustelae, like C. pylori, has multiple sheathed flagella, rapidly hydrolyzes urea, is H₂S negative on triple sugar iron agar, and has a variable reaction on lead acetate strips. It does not grow in the presence of 3% NaCl, and growth is variable in 0.04% triphenyltetrazolium chloride and 1% glycine. Unlike C. pylori, this organism reduces nitrate, is susceptible to nalidixic acid, and is resistant to cephalothin. Three strains of C. pylori subsp. mustelae were highly related (≥86%) as determined by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-DNA hybridization (hydroxyapatite method, 50 and 65°C). C. pylori subsp. mustelae was ≥85% related to C. pylori, whereas the level of relatedness with another seven Campylobacter isolates was ≤2% at 65°C. The type strain of C. pylori subsp. mustelae is strain R85-13-6 (= ATCC 43772), and its DNA has a guanine-plus-cytosine content of 38 mol%.