Studies Upon Minute Hemolytic Streptococci

Abstract

In a recent brief report (1) we discussed the isolation of small, amphophilic cocci which possess the power of producing the beta type of hemolysis in poured plates of rabbit's blood, sugar-free agar. These minute organisms resembled the ordinary type of beta hemolytic streptococci in many of their morphological and cultural characteristics. They were isolated from the rhinopharynx in a variety of diseases and from normal human beings, but were recovered most frequently from the throats of individuals suffering from glomerular nephritis or progressive rheumatic infection. These organisms occur in pairs, short chains and masses and are one-half to two-thirds the size of ordinary beta hemolytic streptococci. While it seems unlikely that these organisms have not been previously observed, a thorough search of the available literature has failed to reveal any description of them. In this report their cultural characteristics will be described. MethodsTechnique of Primary Isolation.--The majority of our strains have been isolated from the throats of human beings and we believe that the method of swabbing the throat is of prime importance. We have found that cotton-tipped sterile twisted wire swabs are ideal for this purpose. They must not be tipped with too much cotton. The ordinary cotton-tipped, wooden applicators which one generally encounters on hospital wards are too bulky and too difficult to maneuver in the process of swabbing a throat. It is our practice to rub thoroughly each tonsil or tonsillar fossa, exploring the tonsillar crypts, if any are present, and

A study of carbon dioxide-dependent strains of Streptococcus milleri

“…The additional group of 20 isolates of streptococci that were facultative anaerobes and grew poorly in air contained only two with the group F antigen, and these conformed with the description by Long and Bliss (1934) of '' minute " haemolytic streptococci. Whilst Colman and Williams (1972) considered these to be variants of S. milleri, such strains continue to be known as " minute haemolytic streptococci " or S. anginosus (Koepke, 1965).…”

Observations on Group-F Streptococci From Human Sources

“…Classically, these organisms are slow-growing, microaerophilic, minute haemolytic streptococci which produced such small colonies that they are often recognised only because of the surrounding haemolysis (Long and Bliss, 1934). Non-haemoytic strains have been reported, particularly from the oral cavity, where they are said to be much more common than haemolytic ones.…”

“…Nine of the strains grew very slowly, producing the classically described pinpoint colonies and attracting attention because of their haemolysis (Long and Bliss, 1934) but 13 strains produced colonies that were easily visible after overnight incubation. One strain was isolated repeatedly in pure culture from the urine and perineum of a patient who had undergone a renal transplant.…”

DNA-DNA Hybridization Studies and Phenotypic Characteristics of Strains within the 'Streptococcus milleri Group'

“…On the basis of cell wall analysis, numerical taxonomy and DNA transformation studies, Colman & Williams (1972) broadened the description to include those previously reported nonhaemolytic streptococci isolated from the human respiratory tract and called 'Streptococcus MG ' (Mirick et al, 1944), the haemolytic and non-haemolytic streptococci possessing the so-called type antigens of Lancefield group F (Ottens & Winkler, 1962) and the minute-colony-forming streptococci of Lancefield groups F and G (Long & Bliss, 1934;Bliss, 1937). Subsequently, Facklam (1977) reported a high degree of similarity between 'Streptococcus MG' (Mirick et al, 1944)' Streptococcus intermedius (Holdeman & Moore, 1974), Streptococcus anginosus (Andrewes & Horder, 1906;Deibel & Seeley, 1974) and Streptococcus constellatus (Holdeman & Moore, 1974).…”