The type species is Waddlia chondrophila strain WSU 86-1044T, which was isolated from the tissues of a first-trimester aborted bovine fetus.
Another W. chondrophila strain, 2032/99, was found along with Neospora caninum in a septic stillborn calf.
A study found Waddlia chondrophila present in the placenta and vagina of 32 women, 10 of which who had miscarriages.
[3] It is hypothesized that the bacterial grows in placental cells, damaging the placenta.
W. malaysiensis was identified in the urine of Malaysian fruit bats (Eonycteris spelaea).