Evaluation of a clostridial alpha-toxin disk test for rapid presumptive identification of group B streptococci.
An alpha-toxin disk test is described in which group B streptococci completed the hemolysis of sheep erythrocytes partially lysed by the alpha-toxin of Clostridium perfringens. The test was performed satisfactorily on the sheep blood agar primary isolation plate, as well as on pure cultures. A total of 95% of strains of pure group B streptococci tested produced positive reactions within 5 h, and all were positive after overnight incubation, with patterns of synergistic hemolysis readily distinguishable from those seen with group A streptococci. The preparation of disks is well within the scope of most clinical laboratories.
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification*
D001427:Bacterial Toxins