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

Five strains related to the genus <i>Rodentibacter</i> were isolated from five pet hamsters kept in Japan. Isolates were genotypically and phenotypically distinct from previously described species within the genus <i>Rodentibacter</i> (family <i>Pasteurellaceae</i>). The five strains were the most genetically similar to <i>Rodentibacter haemolyticus</i> 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 <i>Rodentibacter</i> species. Although they share <i>β</i>-haemolysis capacity with <i>R. haemolyticus</i>, the novel strains are differentiated by their positive reactions for <i>α</i>-glucosidase, l-arabinose and trehalose, as well as negative reactions for <i>β</i>-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 <i>Rodentibacter</i> species. We propose the name <i>Rodentibacter abscessus</i> 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).