Existence of Subserotypes in Streptococcus parauberis Serotype I

Streptococcus parauberis is the etiologic agent of streptococcosis in Japanese flounder Paralichthys olivaceus. Two serotypes, termed serotypes I and II, are known among the Japanese S. parauberis isolates. In the course of serodiagnosis, we found several strains that did not agglutinate with rabbit anti-serotype I or II sera. In this study, we investigated the serological and genetic relationships among the stocked S. parauberis strains including the non-agglutinating ones using a newly prepared rabbit antiserum against a non-agglutinating strain (NUF1071) as well as previously prepared anti-serotype I and II sera, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). An antiserum cross-absorption test and microtiter agglutination test revealed that the serotype I was divided into three subserotypes, tentatively designated Ia, Ib and Ic. The non-agglutinating strains belonged to the subserotype Ic. Of the 104 serotype I strains, 6, 91 and 7 strains belonged to subserotypes Ia, Ib and Ic, respectively. Formalin-killed cells of subserotype Ia and Ic strains were agglutinated with the anti-subserotype Ia serum (so far being used as an anti-serotype I serum) and Ic serum, respectively. Subserotype Ib strains were agglutinated with both sera. In PFGE analysis, the stocked 188 S. parauberis strains were divided into three clusters corresponding to subserotypes Ib/Ic, Ia and serotype II.