TAXONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE TORTOISE MYCOPLASMAS MYCOPLASMA-AGASSIZII AND MYCOPLASMA-TESTUDINIS BY 16S RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE SEQUENCE COMPARISON

The nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA genes of two mycoplasmas, Mycoplasma agassizii (proposed sp. nov.) and Mycoplasma testudinis, isolated from tortoises were determined and used for taxonomic comparisons. Signature nucleotide sequence motifs and overall sequence similarities to other mollicutes positioned these mycoplasmas in the M. hyorhinis and M. pneumoniae phylogenetic groups, respectively. A third, previously unrecognized tortoise mycoplasma was detected by 16S rRNA gene amplification and sequence analysis and was positioned in the M. fermentans phylogenetic group. The 16S rRNA gene of Acholeplasma laidlawii was similarly detected in a tortoise isolate, showing that diverse mollicutes can share the same family of reptilian host.