Genetic homogeneity and phage susceptibility of ruminal strains of Streptococcus bovis isolated in Australia.

The genetic homogeneity of 37 strains of ruminal streptococci was investigated by comparing DNA fragment profiles on agarose gels following restriction endonuclease digestion with Hae III, Cfo I and Msp I. Thirty strains were indistinguishable from Streptococcus bovis strains, 2B, H24 and AR3. The remaining three strains were similar but not identical to a ruminal strain of Strep. intermedius (AR36). In addition, the susceptibility of these strains to infection by five bacteriophages was examined. Three of the phages (phi Sb02, phi Sb03 and phi Sb04) were specific to the strain of Strep. bovis from which they were isolated, while phages 2BV and phi Sb01 infected one and two strains, respectively, in addition to their primary host. It was concluded that although Strep. bovis is relatively homogeneous genetically, broad host range phages appear to be uncommon with this bacterial species.