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Characterization of human clinical isolates of Dietzia species previously misidentified as Rhodococcus equi

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Abstract

In this study, 16 human clinical isolates of Dietzia species previously misidentified as Rhodococcus equi were evaluated using phenotypic methods, including traditional and commercial (API Coryne) biochemical tests, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and 16S rRNA gene and gyrB gene sequencing. Positive results for both the hydrolysis of adenine and Christie–Atkins–Munch–Petersen (CAMP) reaction allowed for differentiation between the Dietzia isolates and the type strain of Rhodococcus equi; however, traditional and commercial phenotypic profiles could not be used to reliably identify Dietzia species. The analysis of 16S rRNA gene and gyrB gene sequences could discriminate all Dietzia strains from the type strain of R. equi. Most Dietzia species had distinct 16S rRNA gene and gyrB gene sequences; however, the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the type strains of D. schimae and D. cercidiphylli were identical to D. maris and D. natronolimnaea, respectively. Based on comparative sequence analysis, five clinical isolates clustered with D. maris/D. schimae and nine with D. natronolimnaea/D. cercidiphylli. The two remaining isolates were found to be most closely related to the D. cinnamea/D. papillomatosis clade. Even though molecular analyses were not sufficiently discriminative to accurately identify all Dietzia species, the method was able to reliably identify isolates that were previously misidentified by phenotypic methods to the genus level.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a research fellowship grant from the Japan Racing Association to H.N. We thank Gerald Pellegrini and Benjamin Moser for supporting this study. We acknowledge the assistance of Ainsley Nicholson of the Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology (DHCPP) Genomics Unit, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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Author notes

  1. H. P. Hinrikson

    Present address: Unilabs Mittelland, Berne, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bacterial Special Pathogens Branch, Division of High-Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Mail Stop G-34, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA

    H. Niwa, B. A. Lasker, H. P. Hinrikson, C. G. Franzen, A. G. Steigerwalt, A. M. Whitney & J. M. Brown

  2. Microbiology Division, Epizootic Research Center, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, Shimotsuke, Japan

    H. Niwa

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  1. H. Niwa
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Correspondence to J. M. Brown.

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Niwa, H., Lasker, B.A., Hinrikson, H.P. et al. Characterization of human clinical isolates of Dietzia species previously misidentified as Rhodococcus equi . Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 31, 811–820 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-011-1379-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-011-1379-7

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