RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Fogelson, Susan B. A1 Camus, Alvin C. A1 Lorenz, Walt A1 Phillips, Ashley A1 Bartlett, Paula A1 Sanchez, SusanYR 2018 T1 Mycobacterium syngnathidarum sp. nov., a rapidly growing mycobacterium identified in syngnathid fish JF International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, VO 68 IS 12 SP 3696 OP 3700 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.002978 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1466-5034, AB Two closely related isolates, 27335T and 24999, of rapidly growing, non-pigmented mycobacteria, were cultured from two clinically ill fish of the family Syngnathidae. Whole genome sequencing of the two isolates revealed low sequence homology to documented mycobacteria within public databases such as the NCBI. Evaluation of targeted housekeeping genes, including 16S rRNA, ITS, rpoB and hsp65, related the two bacteria distantly to Mycobacterium senegalense CK2 M4421 and Mycobacterium farcinogenes DSM 43637. Phenotypic, biochemical and dDNA–DNA hybridization tests demonstrated that Mycobacterium syngnathidarum is a new species distinct from other recognized rapidly growing mycobacterial species. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data evaluation provided evidence that the two strains represent one novel species. We propose the formal recognition of Mycobacterium syngnathidarum sp. nov., with isolate 27335T as the type strain (=ATCC TSD-89T,=DSM 105112T)., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijsem.0.002978