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Characteristics
Morphology

Gram-positive coccus or spherical, non-sporeforming facultative anaerobic bacteria that grows in pairs or chains.
Disease

Pharyngitis, pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, necrotizing fasciitis, urinary tract infections.
Zoonosis
Yes
Health Hazards
Host Range
Humans and animals (cattle, poultry, fish, reptiles).
Modes of Transmission

Ingestion, exposure of mucous membranes, penetration through skin; wound contamination.
Signs and Symptoms

Respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, diarrhea, redness and swelling at site of infection.
Infectious Dose
>10^6-10^7 organisms.
Incubation Period
Days to weeks
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis
None.
Vaccines
None.
Treatment
 
Surveillance
Monitor for symptoms of infection.
MSU Requirements
Report any exposures
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
Cases have been reported
Sources
Cultures, frozen stocks, other samples described in IBC protocol.
Supplemental References
Canadian MSDS:
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/index-eng.php
BMBL
https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html 
CDC
 
NIH Guidelines
https://osp.od.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/NIH_Guidelines.pdf
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures utilizing infected animals.
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
1:10 bleach:water; or 70% ethanol.
Inactivation
Inactivated by moist heat (15 min at 121°C) and dry heat (1 hour at 170°C)
Survival Outside Host
Survives in mud, litter, and sediment, limited survival on surfaces.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.