Streptococcus Porcinus Research Articles

The leaderless communication peptide (LCP) class of quorum-sensing peptides is broadly distributed among Firmicutes

The human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes secretes a short peptide (leaderless communication peptide, LCP) that mediates intercellular communication and controls bacterial virulence through interaction with its receptor, RopB. Here, we show that LCP and RopB homologues are present in other Firmicutes. We experimentally validate that LCPs with distinct peptide communication codes act as bacterial intercellular signals and regulate gene expression in Streptococcus salivarius, Streptococcus porcinus, Enterococcus malodoratus and Limosilactobacillus reuteri. Our results indicate that LCPs are more widespread than previously thought, and their characterization may uncover new signaling mechanisms and roles in coordinating diverse bacterial traits.

Streptococcus porcinus

This datasheet on Streptococcus porcinus covers Identity, Overview, Distribution, Hosts/Species Affected, Further Information.

Questioning the source of identified non-foodborne pathogens from food-contact wooden surfaces used in Hong Kong's urban wet markets

In this study, a phylogenic analysis was performed on pathogens previously identified in Hong Kong wet markets' cutting boards. Phylogenetic comparisons were made between phylotypes obtained in this study and environmental and clinical phylotypes for establishing the possible origin of selected bacterial species isolated from wet market cutting board ecosystems. The results reveal a strong relationship between wet market bacterial assemblages and environmental and clinically relevant phylotypes. However, our poor knowledge of potential cross-contamination sources within these wet markets is further exacerbated by failing to determine the exact or presumed origin of its identified pathogens. In this study, several clinically relevant bacterial pathogens such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus suis and Streptococcus porcinus were linked to cutting boards associated with pork; Campylobacter fetus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and A. caviae in those associated with poultry; and Streptococcus varanii, A. caviae, Vibrio fluvialis, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in those associated with seafood. Identifying non-foodborne clinically relevant pathogens in wet market cutting boards in this study confirms the need for safety approaches for wet market meat, including cold storage. The presented study justifies the need for future systematic epidemiological studies to determine identified microbial pathogens. Such studies should bring about significant improvements in the management of hygienic practices in Hong Kong's wet markets and work towards a One Health goal by recognizing the importance of wet markets as areas interconnecting food processing with animal and clinical environments.

Pathogens associated with pleuritic pig lungs at an abattoir in Queensland Australia.

Pleurisy in pigs has economic impacts in the production stage and at slaughter. This study sought to establish if some micro-organisms can be found in high numbers in lungs with pleurisy by assessing batches of pigs at an abattoir in Queensland Australia. Samples of lung (including trachea/bronchus and lymph nodes) from a maximum of 5 pleurisy affected pigs were collected from 46 batches of pigs representing 46 Queensland farms. Pleurisy-affected lung areas were cultured by traditional bacteriological methods and bacteria quantified by plate scores. Additionally, tracheal or bronchial swabs and apical lobe fluid were tested for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae DNA and the superior tracheobronchial lymph nodes were tested for porcine circovirus type 2 DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All apparently significant bacteria were identified via PCR or sequencing. Typing was undertaken on some of the bacterial isolates. The most prevalent pathogens were M. hyopneumoniae, Streptococcus suis and Porcine Circovirus type 2, being found in 34, 38 and 31 batches, respectively. Other bacteria found were Actinobacillus species (29 batches), Pasteurella multocida (24 batches), Mycoplasma flocculare (9 batches), Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (7 batches), Mycoplasma hyorhinis (4 batches), Bisgaard Taxon 10 (1 batch), Glaesserella parasuis (1 batch), Streptococcus minor (1 batch) and Streptococcus porcinus (1 batch). Most batches had more than one bacterial species. The high percentage of batches infected with S. suis (83%), M. hyopneumoniae (74%) and PCV2 (70%) and clustering by a batch of these pathogens, as well as the presence of many secondary pathogens, suggests synergy between these organisms may have resulted in pleurisy.

Low temperature preservation: Influence of putative bioactive microalgae and hop extracts on sperm quality and bacterial load in porcine semen

The frequent use of antibiotics in artificial insemination promotes the development of antibiotic resistance. Therefore, alternatives must be considered. In this study, putative bioactive microalgae and hop extracts were examined to estimate their effect on quality and bacterial load of preserved porcine semen when used a low-temperature storage at 5 °C in Androstar® Premium (ASP) extender (Minitüb). Firstly, five algae extracts (Neochloris oleoabundans (NEO), Pseudococcomyxa simplex (PSEY), Phormidium ambiquum (PHA), Schizochlamydella minutissima (SCH), Cyanidioschyzon merolae (CYA)) and one hop extract (Humulus lupulus (HOP)) in four concentrations (0.2, 2, 20 and 200 μg/mL) were tested on their sperm-compatibility at 17 °C. All extracts in the concentrations 0.2 and 2 μg/mL appeared to be sperm compatible. After 72 h of storage at 5 °C, variants showed an increase of total bacterial subcultures from 103 (ASP w/o supplements) to 113/136/135/136/126/118 (ASP w/NEO/PSEY/PHA/HOP/SCH/CYA). Even though bacterial growth was not inhibited in general, all extracts showed an antimicrobial effect on specific bacteria, including Gram-positive (Trueperella pyogenes, Streptococcus porcinus) and Gram-negative bacterial species (Alcaligenes faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Ralstonia sp., Pasteurella sp., Proteus sp., Providencia stuartii, and Escherichia coli). While the proportion of these species was 10% in the control (ASP w/o supplements), their proportion in the supplemented variants ranged from 8% (NEO, HOP) to as low as 3% (PSEY). Although the tested extracts are not suitable to replace conventional antibiotics due to their lack of broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, they nevertheless present promising opportunities for bacteria-specific, customizable usage in boar semen extenders combined with antibiotics or other antimicrobial agents.

Low temperature preservation of porcine semen: influence of short antimicrobial lipopeptides on sperm quality and bacterial load

Antimicrobial resistance is a steadily increasing problem and poses a serious threat to global public health. Therefore, it is highly necessary to advance the development of novel antimicrobial compounds and semen preservation strategies. The aim of this study was to evaluate a low temperature, antibiotic-free preservation procedure using Androstar Premium (ASP) extender (Minitüb) with antimicrobial lipopeptides. Firstly, seven lipopeptides in two concentrations (1 × minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)/2 × MIC) were tested on their sperm-compatibility at 17 °C. Two lipopeptides, C16-KKK-NH2 and C16-KKKK-NH2, did not negatively affect sperm quality and were further evaluated for their efficiency of bacterial growth inhibition at 5 °C. Besides an overall diminution of colony forming units, both peptides showed a reduction of bacterial subcultures (n = 103) with a decrement in Gram-positive rods from 65 (ASP w/o supplements) to 39/52 (ASP w/ C16-KKK-NH2/C16-KKKK-NH2), in Gram-positive cocci from 21 to 9/10 and in Gram-negative species from 17 to 8/5 total subcultures. Furthermore, lipopeptides revealed activity towards selected bacteria of potential concern in artificial insemination like Trueperella pyogenes, Alcaligenes faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (not C16-KKK-NH2), Pasteurella sp., Providencia stuartii, Escherichia coli (not C16-KKKK-NH2) and Streptococcus porcinus (not C16-KKKK-NH2). Consequently, both tested lipopeptides are promising candidates for alternative antibiotic-free preservation techniques of boar semen.

Isolation and characteristics of multi-drug resistant Streptococcus porcinus from the vaginal secretions of sow with endometritis

BackgroundSow endometritis is a common disease in pig breeding farms after artificial insemination, which leads to gray-green vaginal secretions and decreased conception rates. It is important to perform an etiologic diagnosis for effective treatments and control of diseases. The aim of this study was to carry out a pathogenic detection in five specimens of vaginal secretions collected from sick pigs with endometritis, implement identification of the pathogens by phenotypic detection and 16 s rDNA sequence and phylogeny analysis, and determinate antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates.ResultsA Streptococcus strain was isolated and identified from all of the five specimens. The isolate was positive for Voges-Proskauer (V-P) and for the hydrolysis of arginine, esculin and myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG). Acid formation was observed for sorbitol, mushroom sugar, sucrose, and glucose. The 16S rDNA sequence of the isolate possessed 99.93% similarity to that of Streptococcus porcinus. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequence showed that the isolate belonged to the same clade as the S. porcinus strains from humans, pigs, and other animals. The isolate exhibited multi-drug resistance to aminoglycosides, quinolones, macrolides and tetracyclines except being sensitive to some β- lactams such as penicillin G, cephalothin, cefazolin, cephradine and cefuroxime.ConclusionsA S. porcinus isolate with multi-drug resistance was identified from vaginal secretions of sows with endometritis in one pig breeding farm, which suggests that the sow endometritis was caused by S. porcinus infection during artificial insemination. This study indicates that sensitive antibiotics such as penicillin G or some cephalosporins could be used for treatment of the diseases. In addition, the study hints that bacterial multi-drug resistance is a tough problem for disease treatment in pig farms.

Development and evaluation of a quantitative polymerase chain reaction for aquatic Streptococcus agalactiae based on the groEL gene.

The aim of this study was to develop a TaqMan quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), based on the Streptococcus agalactiae groEL gene, to specifically quantify levels of bacteria within samples derived from aquatic sources, particularly aquaculture. Enumeration of bacteria by qPCR was compared with culture-based methods. The qPCR was sensitive to 33 isolates of S. agalactiae, representing 11 clonal complexes from aquatic, bovine and human hosts. The specificity of the assay was 92·5% at a threshold Cq value of 35. No cross-reaction with Streptococcus iniae was noted and of the 22 comparator species screened to test assay specificity, Streptococcus porcinus had a Cq value of 33·7 S, while Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. macedonicus and Streptococcus ictaluri had one replicate value above the Cq threshold of 35 (34·5 and 34·4 respectively), while only S. agalactiae were detected with a Cq value of 30. The limit of detection of the assay was 1·7 copies per µl at Cq 35. Discrepancies between molecular and culture-based methods of enumeration were noted. The qPCR was able to detect a diverse range of S. agalactiae isolates from different clonal complexes (CCs) and could distinguish between S. agalactiae and closely related species, notably S. iniae. The results suggest that a Cq 30 would be a very meaningful cut-off, allowing the detection of infected fish while ruling out all false positives. This rapid and sensitive qPCR assay is useful to quantify DNA copy number in the laboratory and could prove useful for detecting low levels of S. agalactiae in aquaculture systems, including Oreochromis niloticus culture.

A new look at the etiological structure of pig streptococcosis

Streptococcosis of pigs is an urgent problem for the pig industry in Russia, manifested in various forms of pathology, causing significant economic damage to enterprises and to the country as a whole. Due to the high tropism of bacteria of the genus Streptococcus, infection can occur in various clinical forms, which is also caused by the initial localization of pathogens such as in the tonsils and nasal cavity of animals, including normal microflora, in the genitourinary system and in the digestive tract. Along with epizootic significance, pathogenic streptococci have epidemiological significance, since pathogenicity extends not only to animals, but also to humans. Within the framework of state epizootic monitoring in Russia the Streptococcus infection is not considered as controlled one, which is why it is difficult to analyze the current prevalence of streptococci, the modern etiological structure of the causative agents of the disease and the features of its epizootic process. So, for a long time, it was believed that pig streptococcosis is caused solely by the species Streptococcus suis, but this conclusion is outdated in reality and needs to be reviewed. In particular, as a result of the work carried out, at least 22 species of bacteria of the genus Streptococcus circulate in pig breeding complexes in Russia, of which Streptococcus dysgalactiae (two subspecies), Streptococcus porcinus, Streptococcus suis, Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus are most often identified alactolyticus, Streptococcus entericus, etc. These isolates were isolated from animals exhibiting any clinical manifestations or pathological changes (posthumous) characteristic of streptococcal infections. When determining the pathogenic properties of the isolated streptococcal isolates, it was determined that most cultures of Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus porcinus, Streptococcus suis, Streptococcus pyogenes cause the death of laboratory animals (white mice with the intraperitoneal method of infection), which indicates the ability of these species to provoke pathogen diseases. Thus, the results suggest that the species Streptococcus suis should not be considered the only etiologically significant causative agent of streptococcosis in pigs, and the system of treatment and preventive measures at disease-favorable enterprises should be adjusted, taking into account the actualized this work information.

The Genus Streptococcus – Part I: Emerging Pathogens in the “Pyogenic Cocci” and the “Streptococcus bovis” Groups

In this first part of a two-part update on the streptococci, new and emerging pathogens in the “pyogenic cocci group” and the “Streptococcus bovis group” are addressed. Among the pyogenic cocci, several new species have been described, and some of these are becoming relevant agents of human disease. Streptococcus porcinus and Streptococcus pseudoporcinus are β-hemolytic streptococci that are found in swine and humans, respectively. S. pseudoporcinus has been isolated primarily from the female genital tract and may play a role in genitourinary tract infections, wound infections, and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Streptococcus iniae, Streptococcus hongkongensis, and Streptococcus ictaluri are fish pathogens, and S. iniae, in particular, has been isolated from several human infections in persons who handle raw seafood or experience penetrating injuries from fish spines or crab pincers. Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies (i.e., the former “S. bovis group”) are well-recognized causes of bacteremia, meningitis, and endocarditis. S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus is known to be associated with colon cancer, and current studies suggest that other S. gallolyticus subspecies (particularly S. gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus) may also be associated with meningitis and other digestive tract malignancies. In this review, current research on S. gallolyticus subspecies and proposed mechanisms for their involvement in the pathogenesis of colonic carcinoma are also briefly addressed.

Vaginorectal Streptococcus porcinus in Pregnancy

Streptococcus porcinus has previously been isolated from the genitourinary tract of reproductive-aged women. However, very little is known about the pathogenicity of this microorganism in pregnancy. The study aimed to report pregnancies complicated by vaginorectal S. porcinus and associated adverse outcomes. We present 2 patients with 3 pregnancies complicated by vaginorectal S. porcinus and preterm cervical change. The first patient lost a twin pregnancy to previable preterm rupture of membranes. During her subsequent pregnancy, again positive for S. porcinus, cervical shortening prompted antibiotic treatment and cerclage. The second patient delivered preterm despite cerclage placed for sonographic indications. Our cases suggest that S. porcinus may contribute to the pathogenesis of preterm rupture of membranes and cervical insufficiency.

Epidemiological, biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility characteristics of Streptococcus pseudoporcinus isolated in Quebec, Canada, from 1997 to 2006

From 1997 to 2006, in the province of Quebec, Canada, 15 isolates of Streptococcus pseudoporcinus from 1 urine and 14 vaginorectal cultures were recovered from the genitourinary tract of pregnant women. All these women originated from the Caribbean or sub-Saharan Africa (P=0.00045 compared with a suitable control group). The S. pseudoporcinus isolates were compared to eight isolates of Streptococcus porcinus identified in Quebec from 1995 to 2006, all from animals, of which five were swine. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was required to differentiate between S. pseudoporcinus and S. porcinus animal isolates.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Characteristics of Streptococcus porcinus Isolated from Human Sources

The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of 25 Streptococcus porcinus isolates recovered from human sources were investigated and compared to the characteristics of 17 reference strains obtained from nonhuman sources. All of the S. porcinus isolates were beta-hemolytic (wide zones), susceptible to vancomycin, gave positive results for the leucine aminopeptidase and l-pyrrolidonylarylamidase tests, and produced acids from mannitol and sorbitol. Most of them were positive for the CAMP test and resistant to bacitracin. The isolates were susceptible to most of the 14 antimicrobials tested, except for tetracycline, for which 80% of the human isolates and 35.2% of the nonhuman strains were resistant. The tet(M) and the tet(O) genes were detected in 23 (88.5%) and 8 (30.8%) of the 26 tetracycline-resistant isolates, respectively. Analysis of whole-cell protein profiles obtained after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis revealed a high similarity among the profiles. Chromosomal DNA was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after digestion with SmaI and by random(ly) amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR using primer 1254. Analysis of SmaI-restricted genomic DNA revealed the substantial genetic diversity among S. porcinus isolates from nonhuman sources, which were also serologically more diverse. Most of the human isolates belonged to serogroup NG1 and shared highly related PFGE profiles that were distinct from profiles of isolates from nonhuman sources. These results were in agreement with those obtained by analysis of amplicons after RAPD-PCR, indicating the potential ability of these techniques for typing S. porcinus and suggesting the occurrence of a few clonal groups of S. porcinus strains adapted to the human host.

Évaluation de Prolex™ pour l’identification rapide des streptocoques isolés en microbiologie médicale

The need to rapidly identify streptococci responsible for acute infectious diseases has led to the development of agglutination techniques that are able to identify streptococcal group antigens (A, B, C, D, F, and G) directly from primoculture colonies on blood agar. The Prolex™ agglutination tests (Pro-Lab Diagnostics, Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada), distributed in France by i2a, have been used for the determination of group antigens of 166 isolates of streptococci and enterococci previously identified in the National Reference Center for Streptococci. The results obtained with the Prolex™ reagents have permitted to correctly identify all pyogenic β-hemolytic streptococci (23 Streptococcus pyogenes, 21 Streptococcus agalactiae, 33 Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis including 6 group C and 27 group G, and 5 Streptococcus porcinus including 4 group B). Four differences between unexpected agglutinations (A or F) and species identifications have been obtained. These differences were observed for four non-hemolytic isolates of Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus infantarius, and Streptococcus suis. The anti-D reagent has been of value as a marker for isolates of enterococci. Thus, these results confirm the abilities of these agglutination tests for the grouping of β-hemolytic streptococci. Moreover, the use of Prolex™ has the advantage to be rapid because of the non-enzymatic but chemical extraction of streptococcal antigens.

Clinical microbiological case: a firm, right infraclavicular mass in an adult woman with connective tissue disease

Clinical microbiological case: a firm, right infraclavicular mass in an adult woman with connective tissue disease

Species identification of Streptococcus porcinus by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA

Streptococcus porcinus reference strains and routine isolates belonging to Lancefield's serogroup E, P, U and V and to various serotypes of serogroup E were examined for their 16S ribosomal DNA fingerprint pattern. Oligonucleotide primers complementary to 16S rRNA genes were used to amplify gene fragments by polymerase chain reaction from genomic DNA. The amplified 1450 bp fragment was subsequently digested with the restriction enzyme BpiI resulting in two fragments with a size of approximately 1250 by and 200 bp. All 45 S porcinus investigated in the present study could be identified on the basis of this characteristic 16S rDNA fingerprint pattern and clearly differentiated from 16 control strains of various species and serogroups of genus Streptococcus. The present results demonstrate the potential application of 16S rDNA analysis for identification of S porcinus, a species which might express various group- and type-specific antigens.

Studies on biochemical, serological and further characteristics of Streptococcus porcinus.

In the present study 70 Streptococcus porcinus isolates could be identified and further characterized by cultural and biochemical properties, by determination of their antibiotic susceptibility and by serological classifications. The S. porcinus included serogroup- and serotype-reference strains, presumptive group candidates and isolates obtained from routine diagnostics. All cultures investigated appeared with a broad zone of beta-haemolysis on sheep blood agar showed a CAMP-like reactivity in the zone of staphylococcal beta-lysin and had the typical biochemical properties of this species. Determination of antibiotic susceptibility revealed a high number of cultures to be susceptible to ampicillin, bacitracin, chloramphenicol, penicillin and vancomycin. Resistances could be observed for erythromycin, minocycline, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, streptomycin and tetracycline. Serogrouping and serotyping could be performed with autoclaved extracts of the bacteria and group- and type-specific antisera prepared against reference strains and group candidates by immunodiffusion reactions. By serogrouping almost all cultures could be classified into serogroup E, U, V or P. Some group E streptococci could additionally be serotyped with type II, VI, VII and group X specific antiserum indicating that group X represents an additional type antigen of serogroup E. None of the antigen preparations reacted with serotype IV, V or group candidate NG1 specific antiserum. The described properties might help to identify and further characterize isolates of the species. S. porcinus, possibly useful in epidemiological aspects.

Cross-reactions of reagents from streptococcal grouping kits with Streptococcus porcinus.

Streptococcus porcinus is usually associated with swine. Because we have received several isolates from human sources that had cross-reacted with commercial group B streptococcal reagents, we examined several commercial kits to determine the extent of this cross-reaction. Fifteen reference and 15 clinical strains of S. porcinus were tested for cross-reactions with group B streptococcal reagents from 12 different commercial kits. Cross-reactions were detected with all group B reagents, but the number of cross-reactions varied with each kit. We recommend that manufacturers of reagents designed to identify group B streptococci by serologic methods test their reagents for cross-reactions with selected S. porcinus cultures or antigens.

Isolement de Streptococcus porcinus dans un prélèvement vaginal

Summary Streptococcus porcinus is normally associated with infections in pigs. Isolation of S. porcinus from the human genitourinary tract is rare, nevertheless an increasing amount has been cultured in the United-States and Canada even though its pathogenic role is not always clearly established. S. porcinus strains can be identified by four tests: susceptibility to bacitracin, the CAMP test, Pyrrolidonyl arylamidase test, and the Voges-Proskauer reaction. The increase of isolates suggests that we may be facing a change in the human genitourinary tract flora.

Bacterial isolation from slaughtered pigs associated with endocarditis, especially the isolation of Streptococcus suis.

Bacterial isolation from slaughtered pigs with endocarditis was carried out from 1985 to 1994. A total of 495 (0.025%) out of 2,006,127 pigs were diagnosed as having endocarditis. Though bacteria were significantly isolated from 399 of the 495 pigs, bacteria could not be isolated in 96 pigs (19.4%). In 11 pigs, 2 bacterial species were isolated from heart lesion. Streptococcus suis was isolated from 127 cases (25.7%), Streptococcus dysgalactiae from 75 (15.2%), Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae from 63 (12.7%), Actinomyces pyogenes from 39 (7.9%), Pasteurella multocida from 11 (2.2%). Staphylococcus aureus from 10 (2.0%), and Streptococcus porcinus from 8 (1.6%). Among the 99 isolates biochemically identified as S. suis, the major serotype was S. suis type 2 (35.4%). The remainder of the typable isolates were identified as serotypes 1/2 (2.0%) and 9 (1.0%). A total of 61 isolates (61.6%) were untypable.