Abstract
Isolates of Leptospira spp. were cultured from water sources at five different sites in central Iowa in the Midwestern United States and characterized by whole-genome sequencing. Isolates were helix-shaped and motile. Genome sequence analyses determined that the isolates could be clearly distinguished from other species described in the genus Leptospira and included one species that belonged to the pathogen subclade P1, one species that belonged to the pathogen subclade P2 and three species that belonged to the saprophyte subclade S1. The names Leptospira gorisiae sp. nov. (type strain WS92.C1(T)=NVSL-WS92.C1(T)=KIT0303(T)), Leptospira cinconiae sp. nov. (type strain WS58.C1(T)=NVSL-WS58.C1(T)=KIT0304(T)), Leptospira mgodei sp. nov. (type strain WS4.C2(T)=NVSL.WS4.C2(T)=KIT0305(T)), Leptospira iowaensis sp. nov. (type strain WS39.C2(T)=NVSL-WS39.C2(T)=KIT0306(T)) and Leptospira milleri sp. nov. (type strain WS60.C2(T)=NVSL-WS60.C2(T)=KIT0307(T)) are proposed.