Sociedad Americana de Hirudoterapia

Castellaniella hirudinis sp. nov., isolated from the skin of Hirudo verbana

Taxonomy paper published in International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (2012)

Última actualización: June 18, 2026Revisado por: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Preclinical (animal)Genómica y proteómicaGlaeser SP, Galatis H, Martin K, Kämpfer P · International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology, 2012

Abstract

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain E103(T), was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolate was closely related to species of the genus Castellaniella. Castellaniella ginsengisoli DCY36(T) was shown to be the most closely related (98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by Castellaniella denitrificans NKNTAU(T) and Castellaniella daejeonensis MJ06(T) (both 97.8 %), then Castellaniella caeni Ho-11(T) (97.5 %). Chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone, Q-8; major polar lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine; predominant polyamine, putrescine with a moderate amount of 2-hydroxyputrescine; and major fatty acids, C(17 : 0) cyclo, C(16 : 0) and summed feature 4 comprising C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Castellaniella. DNA-DNA hybridization values with the type strains of all species of the genus Castellaniella were 23 % (reciprocal, 18 %) with C. ginsengisoli KCTC 22398(T), 20 % (26 %) with C. daejeonensis KCTC 22454(T), 11 % (58 %) with C. denitrificans DSM 11046(T) and 13 % (12 %) with C. caeni KCTC 12197(T)(.) Phenotypic differentiation of strain E103(T) from its closest neighbours was possible. Strain E103(T) therefore represents a novel species of the genus Castellaniella, for which the name Castellaniella hirudinis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain E103(T) ( = CCUG 62394(T) = LMG 26910(T)).

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeJournal Article
Indexed MeSH termsAlcaligenaceaeAnimalsBacterial Typing TechniquesDNA, BacterialFatty AcidsLeechesMolecular Sequence DataNucleic Acid HybridizationPhylogenyPutrescineRNA, Ribosomal, 16SSequence Analysis, DNA

Resumen

Polyphasic description of Castellaniella hirudinis sp. nov. (E103T) from medical leech Hirudo verbana skin, contributing to systematic inventory of leech-associated bacteria.

Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia

This article reports the isolation and polyphasic taxonomic characterization of a novel bacterial species, Castellaniella hirudinis sp. nov. (strain E103(T)), obtained from the skin of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana. The study used 16S rRNA sequencing, DNA-DNA hybridization, and chemotaxonomic analyses to establish the strain as a new species within the genus Castellaniella. For ASH's domain, this work contributes to the cataloguing of the culturable bacterial associates of medicinal leeches, which is relevant to understanding leech microbiota and potential infection risks associated with hirudotherapy. However, the study is purely taxonomic in scope — it provides no data on pathogenicity, clinical significance, effects on leech therapy outcomes, or any therapeutic properties of the organism, and thus its relevance to hirudotherapy practice is indirect.

Citación

Castellaniella hirudinis sp. nov., isolated from the skin of Hirudo verbana.

Glaeser SP, Galatis H, Martin K, Kämpfer P · International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology, 2012

Contexto clínico relacionado

Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 26, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026

Este sitio web proporciona información educativa y no constituye consejo médico, diagnóstico ni recomendaciones de tratamiento. La terapia con sanguijuelas medicinales conlleva riesgos clínicamente significativos y debe ser realizada únicamente por profesionales calificados bajo protocolos aprobados institucionalmente. La autorización 510(k) de la FDA para sanguijuelas medicinales se limita a indicaciones específicas; las discusiones sobre uso investigativo y fuera de indicación se señalan correspondientemente. Para orientación médica específica, consulte a un profesional de salud calificado.