Identification of a high-virulence clone of serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae by growth characteristics at 40 degrees C.
A high-virulence clone of serotype III Streptococcus agalactiae causing invasive neonatal disease was previously identified by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. A simple procedure involving growth at 40 degrees C distinguished all isolates classified in this high-virulence clone from other serotype III isolates, which are more frequently associated with asymptomatically colonized infants, as well as the other serotypes of group B streptococci. The high-virulence clone failed to grow at 40 degrees C in FMC, a chemically defined medium, in contrast to the other organisms, which grew readily.
Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284.
S J
SJ
Mattingly
J J
JJ
Maurer
E K
EK
Eskew
F
F
Cox
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012703:Serotyping; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013696:Temperature; D014774:Virulence