DIFFERENTIATION OF STREPTOCOCCUS-UBERIS AND STREPTOCOCCUS-PARAUBERIS BY RESTRICTION-FRAGMENT-LENGTH-POLYMORPHISM ANALYSIS OF THE 16S RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE AND FURTHER-STUDIES ON SEROLOGICAL PROPERTIES

The 16S rRNA gene of 36 previously characterized streptococci was ampl ified by polymerase chain reaction and subsequently digested with the restriction enzymes RsaI and AvaII. We found a restriction pattern cha racteristic for Streptococcus uberis for 34 isolates and a restriction profile characteristic for S, parauberis for two isolates respectivel y. The isolates were aditionally investigated for B-glucuronidase enzy me activity and for the occurrence of type-specific antigens. The latt er was performed with antisera prepared against S. porcinus type refer ence strains of serogroup E. The beta-glucuronidase enzyme activity di d not reliably differentiate into the species S. uberis and S. paraube ris. In addition the beta-glucuronidase enzyme activity and previously observed properties such as CAMP-like reactivities, lectin agglutinat ion reactions and the occurrence of group-specific antigens seemed to be not related to each other. One S. uberis cross-reacted with antiser a produced against the S. porcinus group E-type II reference strain. N one of the remaining strains showed cross reactivity with any of the s era tested. (C) 1998 Chapman & Hall Ltd.