Name: Weeksella zoohelcum Holmes et al. 1987

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: zo.o.hel’cum. Gr. neut. n. zôon, an animal; Gr. neut. n. helkos, a wound; N.L. gen. neut. pl. n. zoohelcum, of animal wounds, because strains are isolated from cat and dog bites and scratches [probably better: zoohelcorum]

Pronunciation (Latin), gender: … zo-o-HEL-kum, feminine

Type strain: ATCC 43767; CCUG 12568; CCUG 30535; CIP 103041; D658; DSM 16783; IFO 16014; JCM 21249; LMG 12996; LMG 8351; NBRC 16014; NCTC 11660

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: AB681029 Analyse FASTA

Effective publication: Holmes B, Steigerwalt AG, Weaver RE, Brenner DJ. Weeksella zoohelcum sp. nov. (formerly group IIj), from human clinical speciemens. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 1986; 8:191-196.

IJSEM list: Anonymous. Validation list no. 23. Validation of publication of new names and new combinations previously effectively published outside the IJSB. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1987; 37:179-180.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: synonym (and not recommended for medical use)

Correct name: Bergeyella zoohelcum (Holmes et al. 1987) Vandamme et al. 1994

Risk group: 2

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Bergeyella zoohelcum (Holmes et al. 1987) Vandamme et al. 1994	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • ❗ Weeksella zoohelcum is the correct name instead if this species is regarded as a separate species (i.e., if its nomenclatural type is not assigned to another species whose name is validly published, legitimate and not rejected and has priority) within a separate genus Weeksella.
  • 😷 The risk group for Belgium has been imported on 2024-02-05. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "human pathogen". — The risk group for Canada has been imported on 2024-02-27. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "Animal classification RG: 1 - Security sensitive biological agent: No - Terrestrial animal pathogen under Canadian Food Inspection Agency authority: No - Containment level: Containment Level 2". — The risk group for Swiss Confederation has been imported on 2024-02-01. The full classification is: risk group = 2. — The risk group for Germany has been imported on 2023-10-29. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "Z". — If in doubt, use the risk group given in the regulations for your country and, if these are not available, use the risk group given in the catalogue of the culture collection from which you have obtained or intend to obtain the strain.
  • 🎓 Name mentioned 11 times in PubMed until 2025-06-04.
  • 🙅 This name is on the List of Recommended Names for bacteria of medical importance (LoRN) as a synonym of the name to be applied to this species. The name is on LoRN because of the recorded risk group of the species itself.
  • 🧍 According to Bartlett et al. (2022), this species is an established human pathogen. Publication: Bartlett A, Padfield D, Lear L, Bendall R, Vos M. A comprehensive list of bacterial pathogens infecting humans. Microbiology (Reading) 2022; 168:0. 🇬🇧

Parent taxon: Weeksella Holmes et al. 1987

Assigned by: Holmes B, Steigerwalt AG, Weaver RE, Brenner DJ. Weeksella zoohelcum sp. nov. (formerly group IIj), from human clinical speciemens. Syst. Appl. Microbiol. 1986; 8:191-196.

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Record number: 785188