First report and whole-genome sequencing of Pseudochrobactrum saccharolyticum in Latin America

The Brucellaceae family comprises microorganisms similar both phenotypically and genotypically, making it difficult to identify the etiological agent of these infections. This study reports the first isolation, identification, and characterization of Pseudochrobactrum saccharolyticum (strain 115) from Latin America. Strain 115 was isolated in 2007 from a bovine in Brazil and was initially classified as Brucella spp. by classical microbiological tests and bcsp31 PCR. The antimicrobial susceptibility of strain 115 was tested against drugs used to treat human brucellosis by minimal inhibitory concentration test. Subsequently, the whole genome of the strain was sequenced, assembled, and characterized. Phyloge-netic trees built from 16S rRNA and recA gene sequences enabled the classification of strain 115 as Pseudochrobactrum spp. Phylogenomic analysis using Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms and Average Nucleotide Identity allowed the classification of the strain as P. saccharolyticum. Additionally, a Tetra Correlation Search identified one related genome from the same species, which was compared with strain 115 by analyzing genomic islands. This is the first identification and whole-genome sequence of P. saccharolyticum in Latin America and highlights a challenge in the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis, which could be solved by including the sequencing of 16S rRNA and recA genes in routine diagnostics.(c) 2022 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study reports the first isolation, identification, and characterization of Pseudochrobactrum saccharolyticum (strain 115) from Latin America. The strain was classified as P. saccharolyticum based on the analysis of its whole-genome sequence and 16S rRNA and recA gene sequences. This provides important insights into the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis and highlights the value of including the sequencing of these genes in routine diagnostics.