Molecular Characterization of Invasive Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, Japan.

We collected β-hemolytic streptococci (1,611 isolates) from patients with invasive streptococcal infections in Japan during April 2010-March 2013. Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) was most common (n = 693); 99% of patients with SDSE infections were elderly (mean age 75 years, SD ±15 years).

Prevalence of macrolide resistance among group A streptococci isolated from pharyngotonsillitis.

A GAS Surveillance Study Group was organized to analyze group A streptococci (GAS) isolated from patients with acute pharyngotonsillitis, with participating pediatricians submitting swab samples between April and October 2012. Molecular analysis of emm typing and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), as well as antimicrobial susceptibility testing, were carried out for 363 GAS isolates. Strains belonging to emm1 were most prevalent (25.

Nonhemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes isolates that lack large regions of the sag operon mediating streptolysin S production.

Among nonhemolytic Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus) strains (n = 9) isolated from patients with pharyngitis or acute otitis media, we identified three deletions in the region from the epf gene, encoding the extracellular matrix binding protein, to the sag operon, mediating streptolysin S production.

Molecular emm genotyping and antibiotic susceptibility of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis isolated from invasive and non-invasive infections.

To analyse the characteristics of infections caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis, clinical isolates (n=145) were collected at 11 medical institutions between September 2003 and October 2005. These isolates belonged to Lancefield group A (n=5), group C (n=18) or group G (n=122).

[Prevalence of intestinal canine and feline parasites in Saitama Prefecture, Japan].

We studied the prevalence of intestinal parasites in animal companions in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, where no detailed data is currently available. Between May 1999 and December 2007, fecal samples were collected from 906 dogs and 1,079 cats in public animal shelters and examined by microscopy. Overall, prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs was 38.

Capsular type and antibiotic resistance in Streptococcus agalactiae isolates from patients, ranging from newborns to the elderly, with invasive infections.

Streptococcus agalactiae isolates (n = 189) from patients with invasive infections were analyzed for capsular type by PCR, for antimicrobial susceptibility, and for the presence of resistance genes. In contrast to the predominance of capsular type III in children, types Ib and V were most common among adults. All 45 levofloxacin-resistant strains had two amino acid substitutions, Ser(81)Leu in the gyrA gene and Ser(79)Phe in the parC gene, and showed similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns.

Distribution of emm type and antibiotic susceptibility of group A streptococci causing invasive and noninvasive disease.

To determine the prevalence of macrolide antibiotic and levofloxacin resistance in infections with Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus or GAS), strains were collected from 45 medical institutions in various parts of Japan between October 2003 and September 2006. Four hundred and eighty-two strains from patients with GAS infections were characterized genetically. Strains were classified into four groups according to the type of infection: invasive infections (n=74) including sepsis, cellulitis and toxic-shock-like syndrome; acute otitis media (AOM; n=23); abscess (n=53); and pharyngotonsillitis (n=332).

[Emm typing by genetic identification of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis and susceptibility to oral antibiotics].

A total of 593 beta-hemolytic streptococci belonging to Lancefield group A (GAS), group C (GCS) or group G (GGS) according to agglutination tests were collected from 11 medical institutions between September 2003 and October 2005. In total, 128 strains were identified as Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (S.

[Large-scale questionnaire surveillance concerning invasive infections with group C and G streptococci].

A large-scale questionnaire surveillance was conducted regarding the onset of invasive infections with beta-hemolytic group C (GCS) and group G (GGS) streptococci from clinical specimens that are normally aseptic and the backgrounds of these cases. The surveillance period of the questionnaire was 8 months from January to August 2005. Completed questionnaires were received from the clinical laboratories of 193 medical institutions.