Isolation of Lactococcus garvieae species from bovine mastitis

Bovine mastitis is caused mostly by streptococci or staphylococci. From the streptococcus-related group the Lactococcus garvieae is mentioned in conne ction with the illness. This species is able to grow both at 10 and 45 degr ees C (L. garvieae is the only lactococcus which grows at 45 degrees C) and in the presence of 6.5% NaCl, which are the key characteristics of enteroc occi and should be in this way misidentified as a member of the genus Enter ococcus. On the other hand, L. garvieae did not grow at pH 9.6 and did not react with streptococcal grouping antigen for group D. The paper presents t he characteristics originated from the five cultures isolated at the end of 1997 year in North-east Moravia. Recent results of tests based on Czech co mmercial identification kits (STREPTOtest 16, STAPHYtest 16 and ENCOCCUStes t) should help with the identification of the pathogen from animal clinical sources because our results were almost identical for all isolates. Positi ve pyrrolidonyl arylamidase reaction distinguishes L. garvieae from pedioco cci, leuconostocs or viridans streptococci and together with positive leuci ne aminopeptidase from aerococci. Members from genus Globicatella do not gr ow at 10 and 45 degrees C, members from genus Facklamia have negative hydro lyse of esculin in comparison with L. garvieae. Species differentiation of L. garvieae from the other lactococci is based on positive pyrrolidonyl ary lamidase and arginine dihydrolase reactions and acid production from ribose and melibiose. According to our observation L. garvieae is no rare species , but probably with regard to lack of information about the taxon it can be commonly identified as viridans streptococcus or as enterococcus. Two isol ates were deposited in the Czech Collection of Microorganisms as CCM 4682 a nd CCM 4683.