Streptococcus bovimastitidis sp nov., isolated from a dairy cow with mastitis

Here we describe a new species of the genus Streptococcus that was isolated from a dairy cow with mastitis in New Zealand. Strain NZ1587(T) was Gram-positive, coccus-shaped and arranged as chains, catalase and coagulase negative, gamma-haemolytic and negative for Lancefield carbohydrates (A-D, F and G). The 16S rRNA sequence did not match sequences in the NCBI 16S rRNA or GreenGenes databases. Taxonomic classification of strain NZ1587(T) was investigated using 16S rRNA and core genome phylogeny, genome-wide average nucleotide identity (ANI) and predicted DNA-DNA hybridisation (DDH) analyses. Phylogeny based on 16S rRNA was unable to resolve the taxonomic position of strain NZ1587(T), however NZ1587(T) shared 99.4% identity at the 16S rRNA level with a distinct branch of S. pseudoporcinus. Importantly, core genome phylogeny demonstrated that NZ1587(T) grouped amongst the 'pyogenic' streptococcal species and formed a distinct branch supported by a 100% bootstrap value. In addition, average nucleotide identity and inferred DNA-DNA hybridisation analyses showed that NZ1587(T) represents a novel species. Biochemical profiling using the rapid ID 32 strep identification test enabled differentiation of strain NZ1587(T) from closely related streptococcal species. In conclusion, strain NZ1587(T) can be classified as a novel species, and we propose a novel taxon named Streptococcus bovimastitidis sp. nov.; the type strain is NZ1587(T). NZ1587(T) has been deposited in the Culture Collection University of Gothenburg (CCUG 69277(T)) and the Belgian Co-ordinated Collections of Micro-organisms/LMG (LMG 29747).