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Geno- and Phenotypic Diversity of Avian Isolates of Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus (Streptococcus bovis) and Associated Diagnostic Problems

The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Stigbøjlen 4, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark,¹ Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology and Mycology, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium²

Received 3 May 2006/ Returned for modification 23 October 2006/ Accepted 4 December 2006

Recently, strains of Streptococcus bovis were reclassified as Streptococcus gallolyticus. In the present study we describe for the first time an outbreak of S. gallolyticus in a broiler flock. Mortality during the first week was normal (<1%), with a final total mortality at the end of production reaching 4.3%. Specific symptoms were not observed. Postmortem pathology demonstrated enlarged and light spleens and livers accompanied by multifocal irregular necroses surrounded by a hemorrhagic zone. In addition, these birds suffered from arthritis and osteomyelitis. Strains isolated from liver and spleen lesions showed clonality as demonstrated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Compared to strains representing previously derived phylogeny, including the S. bovis-S. equinus complex, the 16S rRNA-derived phylogeny of the strains investigated in this study demonstrated a paraphyletic group (S. gallolyticus) well separated from two monophyletic groups: (i) S. equinus-S. bovis plus S. infantarius and (ii) S. alactolyticus plus S. intestinalis. According to information in GenBank, none of the strains included from the two monophyletic groups have been isolated from birds. Further biochemical analyses, including tannase activity, identified for the first time avian isolates belonging to S. gallolyticus subsp. gallolyticus. However, these investigations also demonstrated a clear heterogeneity with pigeon isolates.

Published ahead of print on 13 December 2006.

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