Prevalence of the M Protein Gene in Group C and Group G Streptococci Isolated from Patients in Thailand

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2017 Jan 24;70(1):108-110. doi: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2015.616. Epub 2016 May 9.

Abstract

We surveyed group C and group G β-hemolytic streptococci for emm and emmL (emm -like) genes which encode the M protein, as well as determined their antimicrobial susceptibilities. A total of 97 isolates 79 GCS/GGS isolates and 18 isolates from other groups were tested for the M protein gene by PCR. Focusing on invasive infections with group A (GAS), group C (GCS), and group G (GGS) β-hemolytic streptococci isolated from blood, the M protein gene was found in 90.0%, 84.6%, and 78.3% of isolates, respectively. The hypervariable N terminal region of the emm was sequenced from 62 isolates, and 26 types of the emm gene were identified. Based on these results, type emm222.2 may be endemic to Thailand. The results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of groups C, G, and non-groups A to G isolates indicated high susceptibility (range 82-100%) to penicillin, cefotaxime, chloramphenicol, clindamycin, erythromycin, linezolid, ofloxacin, and vancomycin, whereas the isolates showed low susceptibility (range 0-15.6%) to tetracycline.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Antigens, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / genetics*
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prevalence
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Streptococcus / drug effects
  • Streptococcus / genetics*
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification*
  • Thailand
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • Carrier Proteins
  • streptococcal M protein