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Editorial Volume 12 Issue 3
Uncovering emerging Streptococcus canis as a zoonotic agent of public health concern
Mahendra Pal 
Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, India
Correspondence: Mahendra Pal, Founder Director of Narayan Consultancy on Veterinary Public Health and Microbiology, B-103, Sapphire Lifestyle, Bharuch, Gujarat, India
Received: December 24, 2024 | Published: December 24, 2024
Citation: Pal M. Uncovering emerging Streptococcus canis as a zoonotic agent of public health concern. J Bacteriol Mycol Open Access. 2024;12(3):137-138. DOI: 10.15406/jbmoa.2024.12.00388
Editorial
Several bacterial agents have emerged in the past decades that cause high morbidity and mortality in humans and animals throughout the world.1,2 Among these pathogens, Streptococcus canis belonging to the genus Streptococcus, family Streptococcocaceae, is one of causative agents of streptococcosis. The other species of Streptococcus, such as S. pyogenese, S. suis, S. pneumoniae, S. dysgalactiae sub sp. S. dysgalactiae, S. iniae, S. halichoei, S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus, S. mitis, S. porcinus, S. agalactiae, S. marimammalium, and S. phocae are also implicated in the etiology of streptococcosis, an important bacterial disease of global public health and economic significance.3–6
Streptococcus canis is an emerging multi-host pathogen of One Health concern that causes various clinical disorders in animals and humans, and is reported from several nations of the world.7–10 It is a Gram- positive, non-motile, non-spore forming, cocci shaped bacterium that can produce life-threatening infections in humans.6,10 The organism is sensitive to 70% ethanol, 1% sodium hypochlorite, 2% peracetic acid, formaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and quaternary ammonium compounds.5
Streptococcus canis has been isolated from many species of animals, such as badgers, cats, cattle, dogs, foxes, horse, kinkajous, minks, otters, rabbits, rats, sea lions, and seals.5,6,11 Cross-infection between cats and cows has been described by Tikofsky and Zadoks.12 It is important to mention that toxic shock-like syndrome that can develop into a serious illness within hours carries high mortality rate in both dogs and cats.5 The infection in humans occurs in sporadic form13 where as in cattle outbreaks of mastitis are reported.14 In humans, S. suis can cause variety of clinical syndromes like cellulitis, arthritis, purulent skin infection, endocarditis, and septicaemia.15 Trauma is considered as a significant risk factor, and maximum cases have been recorded in elderly patients above the age of 60 years.16,17
The zoonotic significance of S. canis has been delineated in a woman who developed septicaemia two weeks following bite from a dog, and the pathogen was isolated from the oral cavity of dog. Further thorough examination of human and canine strains revealed that both shared the similar PFGE pattern, thus supporting zoonotic transmission of S. canis from canine-to-human.11,15
The direct demonstration of Gram positive cocci in chains or pairs in stained smears from clinical specimens helps in presumptive diagnosis of S. canis infection. However, the isolation of pathogen from the clinical specimens on blood agar confirms the diagnosis.5 Recently, PCR technique has been developed for the diagnosis of S. canis.5
A number of antibiotics, such as amoxicillin, ampicillin, vancomycin, and clavulanic acid are recommended for the treatment of S. canis infections in human beings. In animals, penicillin, amoxicillin and clavulanic acid are used.10,12,15
Streptococcus canis acts as a primary pathogen of dog, and occurs as a commensal on the skin and mucosal surfaces of healthy dogs.10 In this context, Pagnossin and co-workers10 described that bites and scratches by dogs may be considered as a significant driver of human infections. It is advised that pet owners, para-veterinary staff, pet handlers, and veterinarians should use gloves to prevent the bites/scratches while dealing with dogs and cats.
The infection caused by S. canis are underestimated and hence, the true magnitude of the disease burden in not well understood. Therefore, comprehensive and systematic studies should be conducted to know the morbidity and mortality from this emerging canine pathogen. It is emphasized that further research on the virulence, pathogenesis, and epidemiology will be rewarding. The role of animals in the transmission of S. canis to humans needs to elucidate. As zoonotic potential of this bacterium poses a public health risk for humans, One Health approach having experts from veterinary, medical and environmental science seems pertinent.
Acknowledgments
None.
Conflicts of interest
The author declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
References
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- Pal M. Do the bacterial pathogens of animal origin pose a serious challenge to public health? EC Microbiol. 2024;20(12):1–2.
- Pal M. Streptococcus pyogenese: a remerging bacterial pathogen of major public health concern. Acta Scientific Microbiol. 2018;1(8):32–33.
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- Zoonotic streptococcosis. The center for food safety and public health, Iowa State, USA. 2020.
- Numberger D, Siebert U, Fuide M, et al. Streptococcal infections in marine animals. Microorganims. 2021;9(2):350.
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- Pagnossin D, Smith A, Oravcova K, et al. Streptococcus canis, the underdog of the genus. Vet Microbiol. 2022;273:109524.
- Richards VP, Zadoks RN, Bitar PDP, et al. Genome characterization and population genetic structure of the zoonotic pathogen, Streptococcus canis. BMC Microbiol. 2012;12(1):1–16.
- Tikofsky L, Zadoks R. Cross-infection between cats and cows: origin and control of Streptococcus canis mastitis in a dairy herd. J Dairy Sci. 2005;88(8):2707–2713.
- Zaidi SMH, Eranki A. Streptococcus canis bacteremia in a renal transplant recipient. J Investig Med High Impact Case Rep. 2019;7:2324709619834592.
- Eibl C, Baumgartner M, Urbantke V, et al. An outbreak of subclinical mastitis in a dairy herd caused by a novel Streptococcus canis sequence type (ST55). 2021;11(2):550.
- Takeda N, Kikuchi K, Asano R, et al. Recurrent septicemia caused by Streptococcus canis after a dog bite. Scand J Infect Dis. 2001;33(12):927–928.
- Taniyama D, Abe Y, Sakai T, et al. Human case of bacteremia caused by Streptococcus canis sequence type 9 harboring the SCM gene. ID Cases. 2027;7:48–52.
- Tarabichi M, Alvand A, Shohat N, et al. Diagnosis of Streptococcus canis periprosthetic joint infection: the utility of next-generation sequencing. Arthroplast Today. 2018;4(1):20–23.
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