Streptococci from the bovine udder in dairy herds in Khartoum Province, Sudan

Five hundred and seventy-nine milk samples were collected from dairy cows on seven farms in Khartoum North area and one farm in Omdurman and examined by bacteriological cultures for the presence of streptococci. One hundred and ninety-three (33.33%) isolates were recovered and identified on the basis of bacteriological characteristics and biochemical reactions as: S. pyogenes, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, S. faecalis, S. faecium, S. bovis, S. equi, S. lactis and S. uberis. Fifty-seven isolates representing the preliminary identification were tested by the latex-agglutination test to determine the serological groups. It was found that 39 strains belonged to group B, 3 strains to group C. Four strains gave a weak reaction with group D sera and were identified by biochemical tests as S. uberis. Two isolates could not be identified by the available sera. The isolation of S. uberis, S. bovis, S. equi, S. lactis, S. faecalis, S. faecium and S. pyogenes from cows in the Sudan was reported for the first time.