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Outbreak of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus infections on the island of Gran Canaria associated with the consumption of inadequately pasteurized cheese

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Abstract

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus infections are infrequent in humans. A clinical and epidemiological study of a milk-borne outbreak caused by this organism is described. Fifteen patients (5 females, 10 males) with a median age of 70 years (range 47–86) were infected. Twelve (80%) had underlying diseases. Infection with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus presented as primary bacteremia in six cases, as bacteremia associated with aortic aneurism in four cases, as septic arthritis in two cases, as pneumonia in two cases, and as meningitis in one case. Five (33.3%) patients died. A case-control study proved that consumption of inadequately pasteurized cheese of a specific brand was associated with S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus disease (OR=4.5; 95% CI 1.57–19.27; p<0.001). This outbreak serves as a reminder that S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus causes serious infections that are usually zoonoses. Identification of beta-hemolytic streptococci to the species level to detect contaminated foods of animal origin is important for preventing new food-borne outbreaks. For a precise characterization of the isolates, the application of molecular markers is recommended.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to thank Maria Jose Pena López for her critical review and for assistance in writing the manuscript, Pilar García Castellano for her assistance in the epidemiologic survey, and Montserrat Riba Armenter and Ma Angeles Capon García-Caro for processing the samples of dairy products.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrín, Bco. de la Ballena s/n, 35020, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

    A. Bordes-Benítez, M. Sánchez-Oñoro, P. Suárez-Bordón, A. González-García & I. Álamo-Antúnez

  2. Public Health Department (Epidemiology Section), Alfonso XIII 5, 35003, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

    A. J. García-Rojas

  3. National Reference Laboratory of Streptococcus (Servicio de Bacteriología), Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Carretera Majadahonda-Pozuelo km 2, 28220, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain

    J. A. Saéz-Nieto & A. Sánchez-Maroto

  4. Laboratorio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria, 35016, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain

    M. Bolaños-Rivero

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  1. A. Bordes-Benítez
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  2. M. Sánchez-Oñoro
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  3. P. Suárez-Bordón
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  5. J. A. Saéz-Nieto
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  6. A. González-García
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  8. A. Sánchez-Maroto
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  9. M. Bolaños-Rivero
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Correspondence to A. Bordes-Benítez.

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Bordes-Benítez, A., Sánchez-Oñoro, M., Suárez-Bordón, P. et al. Outbreak of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus infections on the island of Gran Canaria associated with the consumption of inadequately pasteurized cheese. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 25, 242–246 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-006-0119-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-006-0119-x

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