Corynebacterium conjunctivae: A New Corynebacterium Species Isolated from the Ocular Surface of Healthy Horses
Investigation published in Animals
July 18th, 2022
Twenty-two unidentified Gram-positive, rod-shaped organisms were recovered from the conjunctival surface of apparently healthy horses and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Based on cellular morphology and biochemical criteria, the isolates were tentatively assigned to the genus Corynebacterium, although they did not match any recognized species. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that all of the isolates were phylogenetically members of the genus Corynebacterium. The isolates shared 99.4 to 100% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity among the strains and 96.5% similarity with Corynebacterium tapiri 2385/12T, which was the closest phylogenetically related species. The DNA G+C content was 58.4 mol%. The major fatty acids were C15:0, C16:0, C17:1 ω8c and C18:1 ω9c, while the predominant mycolic acids consisted of C30:0, C32:0 and C34:0. The isolates were distinguished from related Corynebacterium species by a number of phenotypic properties. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from horses be classified in the genus Corynebacterium as Corynebacterium conjunctivae sp. nov. The type strain of C. conjunctivae is ICM19-01138T (DSM 109759T = CCUG 73728T)
Fernandez-Garayzabal JF., LaFrentz S., Casamayor A., Abarca E., Mohammed HH., Cuming RS., Arias CR., Dominguez L. and Vela AI..
 | Servicio de Identificación y Caracterización Microbiana (ICM). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Department of Biological Sciences. Auburn University. | |
| Servei d´Oftalmologia. ARS Veterinaria. | |
| Department of Aquatic Animal Medicine and Management. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. Assiut University. | |
| Scone Equine Hospital. | |
| School of Fisheries. Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences. Auburn University. | |
