Abstract

A collection of 12 strains isolated from diseased tortoises tentatively identified as [Pasteurella]

testudinis-like based on phenotypical characters were compared with three reference strains of

[Pasteurella] testudinis. All strains could be separated from the reference strains with respect to

16S rRNA gene sequence, partial sequence of the house-keeping gene rpoB and by phenotypic

characters. A new genus of Pasteurellaceae Pohl 1981 with one species Chelonobacter oris gen.

nov., sp. nov. is proposed based upon differences in 16S rRNA and rpoB gene sequence.

Differences in indole, phosphatase, ß-glucosidase (NPG) and production of acid from dulcitol

and trehalose separate Chelonobacter oris from [Pasteurella] testudinis. Several phenotypic

characters separate Chelonobacter oris from Bisgaard's taxa 14 and 32 and at least two from the

13 existing genera of Pasteurellaceae.

The type strain of Chelonobacter oris is 1662T (= CCUG 55632T = DSM xxxxx T)