The taxonomic journey for the species Streptococcus dysgalactiae has been long and winding, and has left many a clinician behind. Historically, it was regarded as a commensal microbe, primarily acquired by zoonotic transmission. However, in the past decades it has emerged as a potent pathogen associated with a wide repertoire of invasive disease manifestations in humans, and the incidence rates have surpassed those of S. pyogenes and S. agalactiae in several geographic regions.
This session presents the contemporary epidemiologic trends of S. dysgalactiae, and review current knowledge on potential host and microbial factors promoting their upsurge. Moreover, drawing power from recent advances in sequencing technology, the taxonomic delineation of this species is revisited, as well as the importance of zoonotic transmission.