Streptococcus ferus

Streptococcus ferus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Firmicutes
Class: Bacilli
Order: Lactobacillales
Family: Streptococcaceae
Genus: Streptococcus
Species: S. ferus
Streptococcus viridans blood agar culture

Overview

Streptococcus ferus is a facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive species of the Streptococcus genus.[1] The species is a member of the Viridans streptococci group [2] which are a large mixed-group of mostly alpha-hemolytic streptococci.[3] The alpha-hemolytic bacteria are ones that exhibit a partial hemolysis with green coloration when grown on sheep blood agar[4] (see image.)

Ecology

S. ferus was originally isolated from the oral cavity wild rats who were living in sugar cane fields and eating a high sucrose diet [5] The species name ferus, meaning wild, refers to their association with these animals.[5] More recently the strain has also been isolated from the nasal and oral cavities of pigs.[1] The species has not been identified in any other host organisms.

Morphology

S. ferus are gram positive lanceolate coccobacillus[1] Non-motile and approximately 0.5 micrometers in diameter.[6] They are non-sporulating and catalase-negative[1] The majority of specimens test positive for the production of acetoin (Vogues-Proskauer reaction).[5] They occur singly, in pairs or in short chains.[5]

Pathogenicity

S. ferus is commensal in wild rats and pigs and demonstrates a relatively weak cariogenic potential compared to other streptococcus species such as S. mutans[7] S. ferus has not had any reported pathogenic instances in humans.[6]

History

S. ferus was originally proposed as a species in 1977 [5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Baele M, Devriese LA, Vancanneyt M, et al. (January 2003). "Emended description of Streptococcus ferus isolated from pigs and rats". Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol. 53 (Pt 1): 143–6. doi:10.1099/ijs.0.02246-0. PMID 12656166.
  2. ↑ "Center for Disease Control and Prevention". Retrieved 5 April 2012.
  3. ↑ "National Library of Medicine - Medical Subject Headings". Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  4. ↑ Fox, Alvin. "BACTERIOLOGY - CHAPTER TWELVE Streptococci GROUPS A, B, D AND OTHERS". Retrieved 11 April 2012.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Vos, P., Garrity, G., Jones, D., Krieg, N.R., Ludwig, W., Rainey, F.A., Schleifer, K.-H., Whitman, W.B., ed. (December 18, 2009). Bergey's Manual of Systematic Biology Volume 3. Springer. p. 692.
  6. 1 2 "ABIS Encyclopedia". Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  7. ↑ Yamaguchi, Yasutaka (2008). "Cariogenicity of Three Kinds of Mutans Streptococci from Pig Oral Cavity". Int J Oral-Med Sci 7 (2): 67–71. doi:10.5466/ijoms.7.67.
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