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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Produce Safety and Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #329122
Research Project: Molecular Identification and Characterization of Bacterial and Viral Pathogens Associated with Foods

Location: Produce Safety and Microbiology Research

Title: Complete genome sequence of the Campylobacter iguaniorum strain RM11343, isolated from an alpaca

Author
item Miller, William - Bill
item Yee, Emma
item Huynh, Steven
item Chapman, Mary
item Parker, Craig

Submitted to: Genome Announcements
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/25/2016
Publication Date: 6/30/2016
Citation: Miller, W.G., Yee, E., Huynh, S., Chapman, M.H., Parker, C. 2016. Complete genome sequence of the Campylobacter iguaniorum strain RM11343, isolated from an alpaca. Genome Announcements. 4(3):e00646-16.

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter species are isolated typically from a wide variety of warm-blooded animals and birds. However, some campylobacters, members of the Campylobacter fetus group of organisms, have been isolated from cold-blooded reptiles. These two campylobacters: C. fetus subsp. testudinum and C. iguaniorum, have been isolated from lizards, snakes and turtles and occasionally cause disease in humans. This study presents the genome sequence of a C. iguaniorum strain isolated from an alpaca fecal sample and represents the first strain of this species isolated outside of reptiles. Obvious differences were identified between the alpaca-associated strain and the reptile-associated strains; however, the alpaca strain was clearly a C. iguaniorum and not an iguaniorum subspecies or a C. iguaniorum-related strain. The presence of a normally reptile-associated strain in a warm-blooded pseudoruminant (that is, an alpaca) is intriguing. A metabolic pathway identified in this strain was more similar to one identified in a swine-associated Campylobacter than to similar pathways from reptile-associated Campylobacter, suggesting a possible dietary basis for association of this strain with alpaca.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter iguaniorum is a member of the C. fetus group of campylobacters and is one of two Campylobacter taxa isolated from reptiles. This study describes the whole-genome sequence of the C. iguaniorum strain RM11343, which was isolated from a California alpaca fecal sample.