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 genus Streptococcus.[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. 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. Vos, P.; Garrity, G.; Jones, D.; Krieg, N.R.; Ludwig, W.; Rainey, F.A.; Schleifer, K.-H.; Whitman, W.B., eds. (December 18, 2009). Bergey's Manual of Systematic Biology Volume 3. Springer. p. 692.
  6. "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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