THE PRODUCTION OF HYALURONIDASE BY LANCEFIELD'S GROUP B STREPTOCOCCI

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Abstract
Hyaluronidase production was exhibited in vitro by over 90% of 112 cultures of Streptococcus agalactiae and 14 cultures of S. dysgalactiae recovered from mastitic cows. The activity was not inhibited by the addition of carbohydrate to the broth medium. Activity was evident in cultures grown in milk media, and was proportional to the amt. of growth. Activity occurred in 0.1 [image] phosphate buffer from pH 5.5-7.5, with a peak near pH 6.0. The enzyme activity was proportional to temp. up to 42[degree]C, and was proportional to substrate concn. over the range investigated, i.e., 0 to 2 mg./5 ml. No enzymatic activity could be demonstrated in milk samples taken from cows infected with hyaluronidase-producing streptococci. This failure was not the result of inhibition by any substance in the milk. An inhibitor was demonstrated in the serum of a normal cow and was effective against hyaluronidase from both S. agalactiae and S. dysgalactiae. Sera from 3 infected cows had a lower level of inhibition.