Human case of bacteremia caused byStreptococcus canissequence type 9 harboring thescmgene.
Streptococcus canis(Sc) is a zoonotic pathogen that is transferred mainly from companion animals to humans. One of the major virulence factors in Sc is the M-like protein encoded by thescmgene, which is involved in anti-phagocytic activities, as well as the recruitment of plasminogen to the bacterial surface in cooperation with enolase, and the consequent enhancement of bacterial transmigration and survival. This is the first reported human case of uncomplicated bacteremia following a dog bite, caused byStreptococcus canisharboring thescmgene. The similarity of the 16S rRNA from the infecting species to that of the Sc type strain, as well as the amplification of the species-specificcfggene, encoding a co-hemolysin, was used to confirm the species identity. Furthermore, the isolate was confirmed as sequence type 9. The partialscmgene sequence harbored by the isolate was closely related to those of other two Sc strains. While this isolate did not possess theerm(A),erm(B), ormef(A), macrolide/lincosamide resistance genes, it was not susceptible to azithromycin: its susceptibility was intermediate. Even though human Sc bacteremia is rare, clinicians should be aware of this microorganism, as well asPasteurellasp.,Prevotellasp., andCapnocytophagasp., when examining and treating patients with fever who maintain close contact with companion animals.
Department of General Internal Medicine, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Daisuke
D
Taniyama
Department of Gastroenterology, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshihiko
Y
Abe
Department of General Internal Medicine, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Tetsuya
T
Sakai
Department of Hematology, Tokyo Saiseikai Central Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Takahide
T
Kikuchi
Laboratory of Infectious Diseases, Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences & Graduate School of Infection Control Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan.
Takashi
T
Takahashi
Bacteremia; Human case; Sequence type 9; Streptococcus canis; scm gene