Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Family: Streptococceae.
• Genus: Streptococcus.

Etymology

• Gk: streptos- twisted; Gk: kokkos- grain, berry, seed.

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Many commensals on mucosal surfaces of respiratory, alimentary and urogenital systems.

Lifecycle

• Streptococci are resident on the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract, lower genital and alimentary tract.
• Reproduction is by binary fission to form chains or pairs.

Transmission

• Transmitted by inhalation, ingestion or sexual contact.
• Congenital or indirect (via fomites) transmission also occurs.

Pathological effects

• Capsules of some spp antiphagocytic.

• Pyogenic bacteria.
• Beta-hemolytic isolates most pathogenic.
• Exotoxins produced - streptolysin O and S, hyaluronidase, DNase, protease and streptoleinase.

Control

Control via chemotherapies

• Pathogenic streptococci are usually susceptible to penicillin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, cephalexin and other cephalosporins, and potentiated sulfonamides.
• Streptococci are often resistant to aminoglycosides and tetracyclines.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Frymus T, Addie D D, Boucraut-Baralon C et al (2015) Streptococcal infections in cats: ABCD guidelines on prevention and management. J Feline Med Surg 17 (7), 620-625 PubMed.
• Iglauer F, Kunstýr I, Mörstedt R et al (1991) Streptococcus canis arthritis in a cat breeding colony. J Exp Anim Sci 34 (2), 59-65 PubMed.