Hyaluronidase production, lactose and salicin fermentation and phage-typability in bovine group B Streptococci.

: Hyaluronidase, also called the spreading factor, may be an important pathogenic factor for the streptococci. Production of hyaluronidase is found in 75% of human clinical isolates of group B streptococci, and we have in our investigation found the same frequency (74%) in 195 bovine isolates. Of the same 195 isolates 17% turned out to be lactose negative, a characteristic usually regarded as being typical of group B streptococci of human origin. These same strains were also mostly hyaluronidase positive. The parameters investigated: hyaluronidase production, lactose and salicin fermentation and phage-typability, can be useful in tracing the origin of the group B. However, bovine and human streptococcal populations do not seem to be completely distinguishable because overlapping exists between the characteristics.