Group G Streptococcal Infection in a Cat Colony

Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Cats

“…Beta-haemolytic streptococci are commensal microflora of the skin, pharynx, URT and genital tract of cats. 63 Infections with Lancefield group G streptococci in kittens and occasionally in adult cats are known to result in pneumonia associated with pleuritis and cervical lymphadenitis, 64,65 fasciitis and myositis 66,67 and toxic shocklike syndrome. 68 In the American retrospective LRTI study, 1 β-haemolytic Streptococcus species were the most common bacterial cause of LRTIs (29% of cases).…”

Fibrinous pleuritis associated with Streptococcus canis in a leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus)

“…In the present case, S. canis induced fibrinous pleuritis in the leopard cat. One study described severe pyothorax and fibrinous pleuritis with bronchopneumonia caused by S. canis infections in two domestic cats [ 14 ]. However, there are no reports of S. canis causing only pleuritis without pneumonia in domestic cats.…”

Highly pathogenic beta-hemolytic streptococcal infections in cats from an institutionalized hoarding facility and a multi-species comparison

“…Wu et al described the pathology of two cats with group G BHS infections that lead to pyothorax and bronchopneumonia, 28 and they described ‘severe, acute, diffuse, fibrinous pleuritis’ with the pulmonary pleura ‘thickened by fibrin admixed with basophilic nuclear debris and colonies of cocci’. Cocci were also seen in the septic exudate and S canis grew on culture.…”

“…27 Even more severe manifestations of group G BHS infections, including necrosuppurative bronchopneumonia and severe pyothorax, were documented in two cats from a colony of 105 cats. 28…”

“…27 Even more severe manifestations of group G BHS infections, including necrosuppurative bronchopneumonia and severe pyothorax, were documented in two cats from a colony of 105 cats. 28 Iglauer et al described a pathologic condition associated with a group G BHS, S canis, characterized by purulent arthritis of one joint. 29 More recently, three shelter outbreaks of S canis were documented with two distinct patterns of infection.…”