Name: Wolbachia persica Suitor and Weiss 1961 (Approved Lists 1980)

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: per’si.ca. L. fem. adj. persica, Persian, here, named after Argas persicus, the reputed host tick

Gender: feminine

Type strain: ATCC VR-331; DSM 101678; FSC845

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: M21292 Analyse FASTA

Effective publication: Suitor Jr. EC, Weiss E. Isolation of a rickettsialike microorganism (Wolbachia persica n. sp.) from Argas persicus (Oken). Journal of Infectious Diseases 1961; 108:95-106.

IJSEM list: Skerman VBD, McGowan V, Sneath PHA. Approved lists of bacterial names. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1980; 30:225-420.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: synonym

Correct name: Francisella persica (Suitor and Weiss 1961) Larson et al. 2016

Risk group: 1

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Francisella persica (Suitor and Weiss 1961) Larson et al. 2016	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • ❗ Wolbachia persica 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 Wolbachia.
  • 😷 The risk group for Canada has been imported on 2024-02-27. The full classification is: risk group = 1, note = "Security sensitive biological agent: No - Terrestrial animal pathogen under Canadian Food Inspection Agency authority: No". — The risk group for Swiss Confederation has been imported on 2024-02-01. The full classification is: risk group = 1. — The risk group for Germany has been imported on 2023-10-29. The full classification is: risk group = 1.
  • 🎓 Name mentioned 14 times in PubMed until 2024-03-27.
  • 🧍 According to Forsman et al. 1994 [1], Noda et al. 1997 [2], and Niebylski et al. 1997 [3], Wolbachia persica should be reclassified as a species of the genus Francisella. Dumler et al. 2001 [4], and Lo et al. 2007 [5] also propose to remove Wolbachia persica from the genus Wolbachia. Publication: Forsman M, Sandstrom G, Sjostedt A. Analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA sequences of Francisella strains and utilization for determination of the phylogeny of the genus and for identification of strains by PCR. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1994; 44:38-46.
  • 🧍 In the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names, the type strain is erroneously cited as ATCC VR 331 (without dash). — Tang J. Personal communication, 2001-05-30.
  • 🧍 See also: Publication: Dumler JS, Barbet AF, Bekker CP, Dasch GA, Palmer GH, Ray SC, Rikihisa Y, Rurangirwa FR. Reorganization of genera in the families Rickettsiaceae and Anaplasmataceae in the order Rickettsiales: unification of some species of Ehrlichia with Anaplasma, Cowdria with Ehrlichia and Ehrlichia with Neorickettsia, descriptions of six new species combinations and designation of Ehrlichia equi and 'HGE agent' as subjective synonyms of Ehrlichia phagocytophila. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2001; 51:2145-2165.
  • 🧍 See also: Publication: Lo N, Paraskevopoulos C, Bourtzis K, O'Neill SL, Werren JH, Bordenstein SR, Bandi C. Taxonomic status of the intracellular bacterium Wolbachia pipientis. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2007; 57:654-657.
  • 🧍 See also: Publication: Noda H, Munderloh UG, Kurtti TJ. Endosymbionts of ticks and their relationship to Wolbachia spp. and tick-borne pathogens of humans and animals. Appl Environ Microbiol 1997; 63:3926-3932.
  • 🧍 See also: Publication: Niebylski ML, Peacock MG, Fischer ER, Porcella SF, Schwan TG. Characterization of an endosymbiont infecting wood ticks, Dermacentor andersoni, as a member of the genus Francisella. Appl Environ Microbiol 1997; 63:3933-3940.

Parent taxon: Wolbachia Hertig 1936 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Suitor Jr. EC, Weiss E. Isolation of a rickettsialike microorganism (Wolbachia persica n. sp.) from Argas persicus (Oken). Journal of Infectious Diseases 1961; 108:95-106.

Linking: To permanently link to this page, use https://lpsn.dsmz.de/species/wolbachia-persicaCopy to clipboardLink copied to clipboard

Record number: 785194