Title
Novel enteric Helicobacter species identified in Grand Cayman iguanas (Cyclura lewisi)
Author(s)
Shen, Z.; Kurnick, S.; Chan, N.; Calle, P. P.; Seimon, T.; Fox, J. G.
Published
2017
Publisher
Helicobacter
Abstract
The Grand Cayman iguana (GCI) is only found on Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. Conservation programs have been in place to reverse their decline. In 2015-2016, several iguanas died of apparent septicemia. Spiral shaped bacteria were identified in the blood smear of a sick animal. Helicobacter DNA was detected in this blood sample by 16S rRNA PCR. Given Helicobacter spp. have been isolated from humans and animals with bacteremia, and H.spp. have also been isolated from 40% of captive-held reptiles in the Netherlands, we screened 26 fecal and cloacal swab samples by culture and PCR from the GCI for H.spp.; 14/26 (54%) of the samples were positive by PCR; five Helicobacter strains isolated were catalase, oxidase positive, urease negative and had gamma-glutamyl transferase activity. 16S rRNA sequence analysis revealed that all the H.sp. had over 99% sequence identity with each other; and share 98% sequence similarity with the H.sp. isolated from Lacertilia (true lizards). Interestingly, this novel enteric H.sp. has not been identified in the blood of the septic iguanas, and differs from the H.sp. identified by PCR (95% identity by 16S rRNA) in the septic iguanas. The draft genome of the novel enteric H.sp. isolated from GCI consisted of a genome size of ~1.91 mb with G+C content of 33.27%. The annotated genome contains 1969 protein coding genes and 38 RNA genes. The H.sp. was confirmed as a novel species based on digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identify (ANI) analysis of its genome.
Keywords
Microbiology; Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Access Full Text
A full-text copy of this article may be available. Please email the WCS Library to request.
![]()
Back
PUB26954