Species Identification of β-Hemolytic Streptococci from Diseased Companion Animals and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Data in Japan (2017)

This study aimed to identify the species and assess the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of beta-hemolytic streptococci isolated from companion animals in Japan. Strains were isolated from clinical specimens of 131 companion animals that exhibited symptoms in April May 2017. We identified strains by 16S rRNA sequencing and assessed their antimicrobial susceptibility using the broth microdilution method. AMR genes erm(A)-erm(B)-meJ(A) and tet(M)-tet(O)-tet(K)-tet(L)-tet(S) in all isolates were amplified by PCR. 16S rRNA sequencing identified beta-hemolytic streptococcal species as Streptococcus canis (n = 117, 89.3%), S. agalactiae (n = 7), S. dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (n = 5), S. dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae (n = 1), and S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus (n = 1). Overall AMR rates were 39.7% for minocycline, 19.8% for erythromycin, and 17.6% for clindamycin, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of > 4, > 2, and > 1 mu g/mL, respectively. AMR genotyping showed the presence of single or mixed types: erm(B)-mef(A) and tet(M)-tet(O)-tet(L)-tet(S). There was a significant relationship between tetracycline-resistance genotypes and open pus/skin-derived specimens. These observations identify some unique features of beta-hemolytic streptococcal isolates from companion animals in Japan, such as the dominant isolation of S. canis and resistance to tetracycline, macrolide, and lincosamide antibiotics, in terms of species identification and AMR properties.