Relatedness of Streptococcus canis from canine streptococcal toxic shock syndrome and necrotizing fasciitis

The emergence of streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) and necrotizing fasciitis (NP) in dogs caused by Streptococcus canis has been reported by o ur laboratory, Since clonal expansion is thought to be: partially responsib le for the spread of invasive strains of Streptococcus pyogenes in humans, the relatedness of 15 isolates of S. canis from canine STSS and/or NF was e xamined using pulsed field gel electrophoresis and biotyping; production of proteases and of;a CAMP-like reaction were also examined. Only 2 of the 15 STSS and/or NF isolates were clonally related, suggesting that the emergen ce of canine STSS/NF is not the result of clonal expansion of one or more h ighly virulent strains of S, canis, All of the isolates produced proteases and demonstrated a CAMP-like reaction, which appear to be additional charac teristics of S, canis.