title: Biotypes and ScM types of isolates ofStreptococcus canisfrom diseased and healthy cats.
abstract: Lancefield group GStreptococcus canisis a component of the normal urogenital and pharyngeal flora of the cat. It is also frequently implicated in epizootics of severe disease in closed cat colonies and animal shelters. Given the importance ofS canisas a feline pathogen and relative lack of published information on characteristics potentially associated with virulence, the authors have compared isolates from healthy and diseased cats in New York and California using fermentation profiles (biotype) and ScM sequences. With few exceptions, isolates associated with disease were biotype 1. Four alleles ofscmwere identified of which type 1 dominated in diseased cats. Type 4 allelic variants were found only in healthy cats and all but one were biotype 2. Type 2 and 3 alleles showed extensive N-terminal variation suggesting a plasminogen-binding site as found on the type 1 allele was absent. Cat antisera to ScM were opsonobactericidal, and these potentially protective antibodies increased during convalescence.
authors.affiliation: Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Timoney
authors.affiliation: Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40546, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Velineni
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, NYS College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14850, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ulrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blanchard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats / Q000382:microbiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Alleles; Feline; M-like ScM; Streptococcus canis