01971nas a2200241   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002260007000043653001800113653001300131653002200144653001400166100001700180700001500197700002300212700001200235245009500247250000800342300001200350490000800362520134500370022001401715       2016                            d  c05/2016bSchlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KGaHannover10aStreptococcus10azoonosis10acompanion animals10aM protein1 aG Verkühlen1 aD Pägelow1 aP Valentin-Weigand1 aM Fulde00aSCM-positive Streptococcus canis are predominant among pet-associated group G streptococci  a5/6  a247-2500 v1293 aStreptococcus (S.) canis is a neglected zoonotic pathogen with increasing importance. Since knowledge about its distribution in pets in Germany is scant, we designed a study and tested 335 dogs and 71 cats for colonization by S. canis. S. canis was isolated from swabs taken from the perianal region by culture and subsequent identification was performed biochemically as well as by PCR. In total, 15.8% (53) of the canine and 8.5% (six) of the feline strains grown on Staphlyococcus/Streptococcus Selective Agar were tested positive for the Lancefield group G antigen. The vast majority of strains expressing the Lancefield Group G carbohydrate (56 out of 59) were further identified as S. canis underlining their outstanding role among animal-associated Group G streptococci (GGS). Furthermore, 90.0% of the canine and 83.3% of the feline S. canis strains harbour the species-specific antiphagocytic M protein homologue SCM, which has been described as an important virulence factor. In contrast, emm-genes typically encoded by human-specific GGS could not be detected in any of the S. canis isolates. Taken together, this study provides insights into the distribution of the neglected zoonotic pathogen S. canis in a population of pets in Germany. The presence of SCM in the vast majority of strains indicates their pathogenic potential.  a0005-9366