Description of Afipia birgiae sp. nov. and Afipia massiliensis sp. nov. and recognition of Afipia felis genospecies A.

On the basis of phenotypic characterization and DNA relatedness, two novel species are proposed, Afipia birgiae sp. nov. (type strain 34632T = CIP 106344T = CCUG 43108T) and Afipia massiliensis sp. nov. (type strain 34633T = CIP 107022T = CCUG 45153T). A new genospecies is described, named Afipia felis genospecies A, closely related to Afipia felis. The complexity encountered in the taxonomy of the Bradyrhizobiaceae group within the alpha-2 subgroup of the Proteobacteria is discussed and the description of these novel species highlights the need for new tools for phylogenetic analysis in the group. The novel species herein described are fastidious bacteria isolated from a hospital water supply in co-culture with amoebae. It is hypothesized that this group of bacteria are a potential cause of nosocomial infections.