CHARACTERISTIC PROPERTIES OF STREPTOCOCCI OF SEROLOGICAL GROUP-L

This study was designed to characterize further 88 streptococci of ser ological group L, isolated from bovines, pigs, poultry and humans. Mos t group L streptococci from bovines grew as granular sediment with lon g chains in fluid media and with compact colonies in soft agar. Most g roup L streptococci from pigs grew with a uniform turbidity in fluid m edia, short chains, and with diffuse colonies in soft agar, The bioche mical characteristics, determined with the Strepzym identification sys tem, revealed no significant differences between the group L streptoco cci of various origins. A positive opacity factor reaction could mainl y be observed with group L streptococci from bovines and humans, but w as less pronounced with group L streptococci from pigs and poultry. In addition, 27 group L streptococci reacted with type antigen X or R an d 9 cultures with M1 or M6 specific antiserum. The determination of an tibiotic resistance patterns revealed that all group L streptococci we re resistant to tetracycline and minocycline, part of the cultures wer e resistant to chloramphenicol, erythromycin and gentamicin, and all c ultures were susceptible to penicillin, bacitracin, cefoxitin and nitr ofurantoin. All these data allowed an individual characterization of g roup L streptococci, possibly useful for epidemiological studies.