title: Identification and characterization of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from horses.
abstract: Seven group B streptococcal cultures isolated from three horses reacted with group B-specific antiserum, were CAMP positive, pigmented and showed the typical biochemical properties of Streptococcus agalactiae. The identification could be confirmed by PCR amplification of the 16S rRNA gene and a subsequent RsaI restriction pattern typical for S. agalactiae. In addition, the isolates were identified by amplification of species specific parts of the 16S rRNA gene, the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer region and by amplification of the CAMP-factor (cfb) gene. Six isolates could be classified as serotype III/Rib, one isolate as serotype Ia/cbeta. The occurrence of the protein antigens Rib and cbeta could be confirmed by PCR amplification of the respective genes. The six isolates of serotype III/Rib were hyaluronidase negative, had a hylB gene with a size of 4.6 kb and an insertion element IS1548 of 0.98 kb. The isolate of serotype Ia/cbeta was hyaluronidase positive, had a hylB gene with a size of 3.3 kb and no insertion element IS1548. In addition, all seven isolates had the insertion element ISSag2 and the gene lmb encoding the laminin binding surface protein Lmb and the gene scpB encoding C5a peptidase. According to the present results the group B streptococci isolated from horses showed characteristics of human isolates of this species.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Tierärztliche Nahrungsmittelkunde, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Milchwissenschaften, Ludwigstr. 21, 35390 Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Lämmler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / Q000235:genetics; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D021141:Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D015183:Restriction Mapping / Q000662:veterinary; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012703:Serotyping / Q000662:veterinary; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C039092:CAMP protein, Streptococcus; D017931:DNA Primers; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D006821:Hyaluronoglucosaminidase