Mycoplasma aquilae sp. nov., Mycoplasma paraquilae sp. nov., Mycoplasma haliaeeti sp. nov., Mycoplasma milvi sp. nov., and Mycoplasma razini sp. nov., isolated from predatory birds of the Accipitridae family

Abstract

Mycoplasmas are regularly isolated from the upper respiratory tract of predatory birds; however, most of these Mycoplasma isolates remain unidentified. A cohort of such unidentified Mycoplasma strains (n = 42) recovered from birds of the Accipitridae family was subjected to a comprehensive taxonomic study. All strains grew well in modified Hayflick's medium, and colonies exhibited typical fried egg morphology. The strains neither produced acid from sugar carbon sources nor hydrolysed arginine or urea. Analyses of 16S rRNA gene, 16S-23S intergenic spacer, and partial rpoB gene sequences placed the strains within the Mycoplasma (M.) synoviae cluster (Hominis group) with M. verecundum and M. seminis being their closest relatives. Phylogenetic trees inferred from 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequences subdivided the 42 strains into five strain clusters. MALDI-ToF mass spectrometry allowed the differentiation of one strain group from the others but failed to distinguish the remaining four strain groups. Genome and proteome similarity metrics (ANIb, ANIm, TETRA, dDDH, AAI) and phylogenomic analysis provided solid evidence that the strains examined are indeed representatives of five hitherto unclassified species of genus Mycoplasma for which the names Mycoplasma aquilae sp. nov., Mycoplasma paraquilae sp. nov., Mycoplasma haliaeeti sp. nov., Mycoplasma milvi sp. nov., constituting the newly defined Mycoplasma aquilae complex, and Mycoplasma razini sp. nov. are proposed, with their designated type strains 1449(T) (ATCC BAA-1896(T) = DSM 22458(T)), 654(T) (DSM 113738(T) = NCTC 14855(T)), VS42A(T) (DSM 113741(T) = NCTC 14856(T)), Z331B(T) (DSM 113740(T) = NCTC 14858(T)), and 005V(T) (DSM 113739(T) = NCTC 14838(T)), respectively.