Classification of Reella acinonychis gen. nov., sp. nov., within Pasteurellaceae

Nine isolates from the gingiva of cheetahs kept in captivity were subjected to genotypic and phenotypic characterization. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene documented the highest identity of three representative strains to the type strain of <i>Pasteurella multocida</i> subsp. <i>septica</i> with 95.82%. The highest digital DNA-DNA hybridization predicted from the whole-genome sequence of strain 22721-9-1^T was to <i>Haemophilus felis</i> with 25.0%. The highest average nucleotide identity of strain 22721-9-1^T was also to <i>H. felis</i> with 74.36%, confirming a separate taxonomic status at species level. The phylogenetic comparison of concatenated conserved protein sequences showed a unique position of the taxon investigated, which qualifies for the status of a new genus, since the highest identity was found to <i>Lonepinella koalarum</i> with 83%, well below the upper threshold among genera of 91%. A new genus with one species, <i>Reella acinonychis</i>, is proposed. Production of indole and acid from sucrose and dulcitol separate the genus from most of the other genera of the <i>Pasteurellaceae</i>. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight MS analysis of the isolates clustered them close together and clearly separated them from other <i>Pasteurellaceae</i> species, allowing clear discrimination and making this the method of choice for identification. The G+C content of the type strain 22721-9-1^T (=DSM 118580^T=CCUG 77953^T) is 38.53 mol%, calculated from the whole genome.