Rodentibacter abscessus sp. nov. isolated from pet hamster subcutaneous abscess

Five strains related to the genus Rodentibacter were isolated from five pet hamsters kept in Japan. Isolates were genotypically and phenotypically distinct from previously described species within the genus Rodentibacter (family Pasteurellaceae). The five strains were the most genetically similar to Rodentibacter haemolyticus 1625-19^T, exhibiting a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.5%, an average nucleotide identity value of 90.8% and a digital DNA-DNA hybridization value of 42.7%. Phenotypic characteristics further distinguish the isolated strains from other Rodentibacter species. Although they share β-haemolysis capacity with R. haemolyticus, the novel strains are differentiated by their positive reactions for α-glucosidase, l-arabinose and trehalose, as well as negative reactions for β-glucuronidase, mannose, inositol and glycerol. Genotypic and phenotypic differences between the novel strains and closely related known strains suggested that we have identified a new Rodentibacter species. We propose the name Rodentibacter abscessus sp. nov. The type strain is THUN1654^T with a G+C DNA content of 40.6 mol%, and it is deposited in the DSMZ Germany (DSM 118002^T), KCTC Korea (KCTC 8595^T) and JCM Japan (JCM 37054^T).