Characterization of Streptococcus lutetiensis isolated from clinical mastitis of dairy cows

Streptococcus lutetiensis, previously termed Streptococcus bovis type II/1, has rarely been associated with bovine mastitis. The objectives of this work were to characterize the molecular diversity, antimicrobial resistance profiles, virulence genes of Strep. lutetiensis (n = 37) isolated from bovine clinical mastitis, as well as its pathogenic effects in a murine mastitis model. Genetic relationships of isolates were determined by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR, virulence genes were detected by PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out by broth microdilution technique. The pathogenic effects of Strep. lutetiensis were studied with 2 infection models: bovine mammary epithelial cells cultured in vitro and murine mammary infection in vivo. Streptococcus lutetiensis isolates were clustered into 5 RAPD-types (A–E), with a dominant type A representing 84% of isolates. Eighteen (49%), 16 (43%), and 9 (24%) isolates were resistant to ceftiofur, tetracycline, and erythromycin, respectively. Prevalence of multidrug resistance (resistant to ≥3 classes of antimicrobials) was 24% (9/37). The most prevalent virulence genes were bca (100%), speG (100%), hly (97%), scpB (95%), and ssa (95%). There was no difference between isolates from mild and moderate cases of bovine mastitis in prevalence of virulence genes. Streptococcus lutetiensis rapidly adhered to and subsequently invaded (1 and 3 h after infection, respectively) bovine mammary epithelial cells, resulting in elevated lactate dehydrogenase release (4 h after infection). Edema and hyperemia were observed in challenged mammary glands and bacteria were consistently isolated at 12, 24, and 48 h after infection. In addition, numerous neutrophils migrated into gland alveoli and interstitium of infected mammary tissue. We concluded that Strep. lutetiensis had potential to spread within a dairy herd and good adaptive ability in bovine mammary cells or tissue, which are generally characteristics of a contagious mastitis pathogen.