Identification of Streptococcus canis Isolated from Milk of Dairy Cows with Subclinical Mastitis

Abstract

Streptococcus canis was isolated from 31 milk samples from 11 cows in a dairy herd (with 49 lactating cows) affected by subclinical mastitis in north Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Thirty-one isolates from the infected udder quarters were further characterized for their phenotypic and molecular properties. Most isolates (83.9%) produced ␣-galactosidase, and all were negative for ␤-D-glucuronidase. Amplification of the 16S rRNA gene by the PCR method and digestion with the restriction enzymes RsaI, MspI, and AvaII yielded speciesspecific patterns. Additional identification by species-specific amplification of the 16S rRNA gene, the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer region, the CAMP factor-encoding gene cfg, and the internal fragments of the sodA gene was consistent with S. canis. Macrorestriction analysis of the chromosomal DNA by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that the S. canis isolates originated from a single clone or were very closely related.

Prevalence and Characteristics of Streptococcus canis Strains Isolated from Dogs and Cats

“…The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. canis isolates found in our study are generally in agreement with the findings of other authors (Wu et al 1997;Kataja et al 1998;Hassan et al 2005;Moyaert et al 2006). In addition, our rates of resistance to erythromycin and tetracycline are much lower than those reported by Wu et al (1997), who found 38.2% of strains resistant to erythromycin and 73.5% of strains resistant to tetracycline.…”

“…On the other hand, Efstratiou et al (1994) described only 40% of strains as esculin positive and all positive reactions were reported as delayed, which might be responsible for some of the discrepancy. According to Hassan et al (2005) all S. canis isolates appeared to be esculin negative on primary culture; whereas, the isolates were uniformly positive after they were subcultured. This could be another potential source of variation.…”

Multilocus Sequence Analysis of Streptococcus canis Confirms the Zoonotic Origin of Human Infections and Reveals Genetic Exchange with Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp.equisimilis

“…equisimilis by biochemical and molecular tests (23)(24)(25). The analysis of 16S and 23S rRNA sequences and that of other housekeeping genes also allows the distinction between these two taxa (17,23) and shows a close genetic relationship of both to another beta-hemolytic streptococcal species, namely, Streptococcus pyogenes (Lancefield group A streptococcus [GAS]) (26). In-ter-and intraspecies differentiation of S. canis isolates may also be achieved by using various typing methods.…”

“…This species has also been implicated in fetal or neonatal septicemia, leading to abortion or neonatal death, respectively (2,11), and in both canine and feline necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (13,14). S. canis may be transmitted between different animal species living in proximity (15) and has been responsible for outbreaks of clinical and subclinical mastitis with bacterial shedding in milk in cattle herds (16,17) and in pets living in shelters (14). However, little is known about the genetic diversity of S. canis, namely, if there are clones particularly adapted to the different animal species.…”

Vaginal Carriage of Antimicrobial Resistant Lancefield Group G Streptococci among Dogs in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

“…It is therefore strongly suggestive that the streptococcal isolates in this study are most likely S. canis. The studies of Clark et al (1984), Skyes et al (2005), Lyskova et al 2007b andLamm et al (2010) Hassan et al 2007). The Streptococcal isolates from this study were from the vagina swabs.…”