Development of molecular methods for identification of Streptococcus bovisfrom human and ruminal origins

Streptococcus bovis has been identified as a causative agent in humans for a variety of diseases, including endocarditis, meningitis, and septicemia. Identification of S. bovis strains of human origin in clinical settings has been problematic due to variations in biochemical tests as compared to rum inal strains of S, bovis, and other streptococcal species. DNA-DNA hybridiz ation with chromosomal DNA from various S. bovis strains indicates that str ains of human origin are different from those of ruminal origin. Specific p robes have been designed from S. bovis 16S rDNA gene sequences that differe ntiate strains of human and ruminal origin by direct hybridization and PCR analyses. These techniques now allow for rapid identification of S. bovis s trains for clinical and other scientific investigations. (C) 2000 Federatio n of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.