| Rodentibacter | |
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| Genus: | Rodentibacter Adhikary et al. 2017 [1] |
| Type species | |
| Rodentibacter pneumotropicus [1] | |
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Rodentibacter abscessus Contents | |
Rodentibacter is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria in the family Pasteurellaceae. Members of this genus are facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacteria primarily associated with rodents, including laboratory mice and rats. The genus was first proposed in 2017 after phylogenetic studies showed that several former Pasteurella species and novel isolates formed a distinct clade.
The name Rodentibacter is derived from the Latin word rodens (gnawing, referring to rodents) and the Greek word baktērion (small rod). It reflects both the host group (rodents) and the bacterial morphology (rod-shaped).
Rodentibacter species typically exhibit the following traits:
They are part of the normal microbiota of rodents, particularly in the respiratory and urogenital tracts, but may also act as opportunistic pathogens.
As of 2025, the genus Rodentibacter includes the following validly published species: [2]
Rodentibacter heylii is now considered a later heterotypic synonym of Rodentibacter caecimuris.
Species of Rodentibacter are important in laboratory animal microbiology and veterinary medicine. Some species are part of the normal microbiota, while others may be implicated in infections, particularly in immunocompromised or stressed animals.