Campylobacter vulpis sp. nov. isolated from wild red foxes

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Genomics
• Veterinary Science

Background:

• Epsilonproteobacteria are commonly found in animal gastrointestinal tracts.
• Wild red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) serve as potential reservoirs for various microorganisms.
• Accurate identification of bacterial species is crucial for understanding host-microbe interactions and disease transmission.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize and identify novel Campylobacter strains isolated from red foxes.
• To differentiate new isolates from closely related species, specifically Campylobacter upsaliensis.
• To establish a new species within the Campylobacter genus based on comprehensive data.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and cultivation of bacterial strains from fox caecal contents.
• Genus- and species-specific PCR assays for initial identification.
• Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) for genetic relatedness assessment.
• Polyphasic taxonomic study including biochemical tests, electron microscopy, MALDI-TOF, and gene sequencing (16S rDNA, atpA).
• Whole-genome sequencing of the type strain and draft sequencing of other isolates.
• In silico analyses (ANI, AAI, DNA-DNA hybridization) for taxonomic classification.

Main Results:

• Fourteen Campylobacter strains were isolated from red foxes.
• MLST and subsequent analyses revealed significant genetic divergence from known Campylobacter species.
• Polyphasic characterization supported the classification of these isolates as a novel taxon.
• The new species is named Campylobacter vulpis sp. nov., with 251/13T as the type strain.
• A specific PCR assay targeting the atpA gene was developed for rapid identification of C. vulpis.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully identified and characterized a novel bacterial species, Campylobacter vulpis, from wild red foxes.
• Campylobacter vulpis is genetically and phenotypically distinct from its closest relatives, C. upsaliensis.
• The developed PCR assay provides a valuable tool for the specific detection and differentiation of this new species.