Pathogenicity of Streptomyces griseus for laboratory mice

Streptomyces griseus, an aerobic actinomycete usually regarded as a saprophyte, was found to be virulent for laboratory mice both by intraperitoneal and intravenous routes of inoculation, the latter route producing a more progressive and disseminating infection. Suspension in mucin resulted in higher mortality and more extensive lesions, often leading to membranous adhesions of some visceral organs. The lesions appeared as nodules containing granules of Str. griseus. The pathogenicity of Str. griseus is compared with that of Str. somaliensis from published reports.