title: Rapid detection of group C streptococci from animals by latex agglutination.
abstract: A group C latex agglutination reagent, included as the negative control in the PathoDx Strep A latex agglutination test (Diagnostic Products Corp., Los Angeles, Calif), was compared with culture for rapid detection of group C streptococci (Streptococcus equi, S. equisimilis, S. zooepidemicus, and S. dysgalactiae) from swabs of veterinary specimens. The overall sensitivity of the latex test was 78%, and specificity was 97.6%. Only 25% of S. dysgalactiae isolates were detected, thereby accounting for the relatively low sensitivity. Ninety-three percent of the group C streptococci other than S. dysgalactiae were isolated from horses. When the latex test was evaluated for detection of group C streptococci other than S. dysgalactiae from horses, the sensitivity and specificity were 95.3 and 100%, respectively. We found the group C latex agglutination test to be a rapid and accurate method for the detection of the major pathogenic group C streptococci from swabs of equine specimens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology-Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-7040.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Inzana
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Iritani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology*; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial