Identification and taxonomic characterization of Bordetella pseudohinzii sp. nov. isolated from laboratory-raised mice

Bordetella hinzii is known to cause respiratory disease in poultry and has been associated with a variety of infections in immunocompromised humans. In addition, there are several reports of B. hinzii infections in laboratory-raised mice. Here we sequenced and analysed the complete genome sequences of multiple B. hinzii-like isolates, obtained from vendor-supplied C57BL/6 mice in animal research facilities on different continents, and we determined their taxonomic relationship to other Bordetella species. The whole-genome based and 16S rRNA gene based phylogenies each identified two separate clades in B. hinzii, one was composed of strains isolated from poultry, humans and a rabbit whereas the other clade was restricted to isolates from mice. Distinctly different estimated DNA–DNA hybridization values, average nucleotide identity scores, gene content, metabolic profiles and host specificity all provide compelling evidence for delineation of the two species, B. hinzii – from poultry, humans and rabbit – and Bordetella pseudohinzii sp. nov. type strain 8-296-03(T) (=NRRL B-59942(T)=NCTC 13808(T)) that infect mice.