Hyaluronidase production, lactose and salicin fermentation and phage-typability in bovine group B Streptococci.
Hyaluronidase, also called the spreading factor, may be an important pathogenic factor for the streptococci. Production of hyaluronidase is found in 75% of human clinical isolates of group B streptococci, and we have in our investigation found the same frequency (74%) in 195 bovine isolates. Of the same 195 isolates 17% turned out to be lactose negative, a characteristic usually regarded as being typical of group B streptococci of human origin. These same strains were also mostly hyaluronidase positive. The parameters investigated: hyaluronidase production, lactose and salicin fermentation and phage-typability, can be useful in tracing the origin of the group B. However, bovine and human streptococcal populations do not seem to be completely distinguishable because overlapping exists between the characteristics.
D000818:Animals; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000378:metabolism*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D005285:Fermentation; D005960:Glucosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006027:Glycosides / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism*; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D012703:Serotyping / Q000379:methods; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification*
D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D005960:Glucosides; D006027:Glycosides; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C005696:salicin; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase; D007785:Lactose