Novel Variant of Beilong Paramyxovirus in Rats, China

C. psittaci, C. pneumoniae, C. abortus, and C. suis (6–10). To our knowledge, this member of the family Chlamydiaceae has been seen in amphibians, but not in other vertebrate hosts. The 16S rRNA analysis showed this taxon to belong to a clade with Candidatus Clavochlamydia salmonicola, a taxon found in fi sh. The phylogenetic position of the novel taxon in the family Chlamydiaceae thus roughly refl ects the phylogenetic relation between the host species, providing evidence for host–bacterium co-evolution in the family Chlamydiaceae. Although the results obtained are not conclusive with regard to the pathogenic potential of this novel genus and species of Chlamydiales, we were not able to attribute the clinical signs to any known disease. We therefore suggest that we discovered a novel bacterial taxon with possible considerable impact on amphibian health.