Paracoccus haematequi sp. nov., isolated from horse blood.

Two slightly orange-pigmented, oxidase-positive bacterial strains (M1-83 and M2-116), isolated from horse blood collected during slaughter in Giessen, Germany, were studied in a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of the isolates were coccoid and stained Gram-negative. The two strains shared identical 16S rRNA gene sequences but their genomic fingerprint patterns differed, indicating the genetic distinctiveness of the two strains.

Niabella hirudinis and Niabella drilacis sp. nov., isolated from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana.

Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, strains E96(T) and E90(T), were isolated from medicinal leeches (Hirudo verbana) and characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the two strains shared 98.1% sequence similarity and were affiliated with the genus Niabella within the phylum Bacteroidetes, with 94.

Kaistia hirudinis sp. nov., isolated from the skin of Hirudo verbana.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana and studied for its taxonomic allocation. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to other strains showed that the strain was closely related to species of the genus Kaistia. Kaistia geumhonensis was shown to be the most closely related species (96.

Devosia epidermidihirudinis sp. nov. isolated from the surface of a medical leech.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped organism, isolated from the surface of the medical leech Hirudo verbana was characterized phenotypically and genotypically. The calculated 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to those of the most closely related species grouped strain E84(T) into the genus Devosia showing the highest similarities to Devosia limi (98.1 %), followed by Devosia psychrophila (97.

Luteolibacter cuticulihirudinis sp. nov., isolated from Hirudo medicinalis.

A Gram-negative, coccoid shaped bacterium isolated from the outer surface of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis was characterized. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that the bacterium was closely related to species of the genus Luteolibacter. Luteolibacter pohnpeiensis was the most closely related species (94.

Castellaniella hirudinis sp. nov., isolated from the skin of Hirudo verbana.

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain E103(T), was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolate was closely related to species of the genus Castellaniella. Castellaniella ginsengisoli DCY36(T) was shown to be the most closely related (98.

Pseudarcicella hirudinis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis.

A pinkish-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, strain E92(T), was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis, on R2A agar. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain E92(T) showed a relatively low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (93.0-93.