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Characterization of Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C) from human and selected animal infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

Michael Barnham
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL6 1JG
Graham Cole
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, North Yorkshire DL6 1JG
Androulla Efstratiou
Affiliation:
Division of Hospital Infection, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT
John R. Tagg
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Stephen A. Skjold
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Medical School, Box 296 Mayo Memorial Building, 420 Delaware Street S.E. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, USA
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Summary

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We assembled an international collection of strains from sporadic and epidemic human infection with Streptococcus zooepidemicus (Lancefield group C) for laboratory study. Cultural and physiological characteristics of the isolates were determined, including biotyping with the API 20 STREP test kit and susceptibility testing with penicillin, erythromycin and tetracycline. The strains were examined for bacteriocin production and sensitivity and typed with a specially developed group-C streptococcal bacteriophage system incorporating a panel of 14 phages. Results of these tests gave useful discrimination between many of the strains: differences were shown between each of the major outbreak strains, including those complicated by post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis.

Serious group C streptococcal infection may be caused by S. zooepidemicus and isolates should be identified to species level; the application of a typing scheme such as this may help to distinguish epidemiological patterns of infection.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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