Helicobacter westmeadii sp. nov., a new species isolated from blood cultures of two AIDS patients

Abstract

A slowly growing anaerobic Helicobacter species was isolated from the blood cultures of two human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients admitted to Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia, with fevers. The morphology of the isolates was consistent with Helicobacter cinaedi or Helicobacter fennelliae. The results of culture growth conditions, biochemical tests, gas chromatography data, ribotyping, and 16S rDNA sequencing showed that these isolates represent a new Helicobacter species, for which the name Helicobacter westmeadii has been proposed.