Streptococcus hillyeri sp. nov., isolated from equine trachea

Strain 28462 T , which had Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative coccus-shaped cells, was isolated from a routine tracheal sample from a 3 year old thoroughbred horse. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed it to be most closely related to, but distinct from, Streptococcus henryi (95.7 % identity) , Streptococcusplurextorum (95.8 %), Streptococcusporci (96.4 %) and Streptococcus caprae (95.1 %). Similarity values derived from sequences from sodA and rpoB genes were consistent with strain 28462 T belonging to a species distinct from these four streptococci. At the whole genome level, strain 28462 T had an average nucleotide identity value <95 % and an inferred DNA-DNA hybridization value <70 % when compared to S. henryi , Streptococcus. plurextorum and S. porci with no S. caprae genome sequence being available. Finally, various phenotypic characteristics distinguish strain 28462 T from each of these species. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic results, it is proposed that strain 28462 T is a novel species, with the name Streptococcus hillyeri sp. nov. The type strain is 28462 T (=DSM 107591 T =CCUG 72762 T ).