Emerging Bacterial Pathogens

Special Bacteriology 

Head: Ms. Kathy Bernard

The main focus is the development of technologies for the rapid identification of atypical bacterium. An example of the activities of the Special Bacteriology Section is the analysis of the anthrax scare powder letters which appeared in Canada following the USA anthrax letter attacks in 2001 and the Asian Tsunami recovery in 2005. The team has the capacity to provide surge capacity for preparedness and response to natural or intentional disasters.

This section has been in continuous existence for 35 years and has been delivering national and international reference services and research into a wide variety of bacteria considered rare, difficult to identity, novel human pathogens, or not previously linked to human disease.

These efforts have resulted in descriptions of genera and/or species nova, novel observations amending descriptions of existing taxa, establishing linkages of bacteria previously thought to be ‘non-pathogenic’ to human disease, and invitations to write reviews of these subjects. As a result, K. Bernard has been acknowledged internationally with the naming of Arcanobacterium bernardiae in her honour.

Leadership in the area of the bacterial systematics of these rare or unusual pathogens has resulted in a high demand for consultation at international fora, such as the American Society for Microbiology annual general meeting, and requests to give lectures or workshops on these topics, to serve on international subcommittees for bacterial systematics, or to represent Canada at international meetings where these pathogens or diseases caused by these bacteria are discussed. This work has resulted in reviews of national response guidelines for diphtherial-type disease.

Study of rare pathogens resulted in the Special Bacteriology staff taking responsibility for creating and then providing laboratory response towards bacterial agents of bioterrorism, beginning in 1999. These duties included providing advice at consensus meetings to create a national laboratory response plan, assisting with Manitoba provincial and Winnipeg city planning, providing federal reference centre type response at the NML, and establishing linkages for cross border response with the United States by joining the US Laboratory Response Network. 

Streptococcus and STI Unit

Head: Irene Martin

The Streptococcus and STI Unit undertakes surveillance, reference diagnostics and research activities on Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes. For S. pneumoniae, this is important for surveillance purposes as it relates to strain composition of recently introduced pneumococcal vaccines in Canada, ensuring serotype replacement are addressed. In addition, this laboratory supports provincial public health laboratories in the characterization of streptococcal isolates for outbreak support. The Unit participates in international and national surveillance programs including:

• Immunization Monitoring Program Active (IMPACT)
• International Circumpolar Surveillance (ICS)
• Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CANWARD)
• Toronto Invasive Bacterial Diseases Network (TIBDN)
• Calgary Area Streptococcus pneumoniae Epidemiology Research (CASPER)
• Programme de surveillance du pneumocoque du Québec

The Streptococcus and STI Unit also provides surveillance, reference diagnostic services, and research on Neisseria gonorrhoeae, STI -related Mycoplasma spp and Ureaplasma spp. The N. gonorrhoeae work focuses on monitoring trends in antimicrobial susceptibilities in order to develop population-level evidence-based public health interventions to assist in Canadian STI treatment guidelines. Research activities include the molecular characterization of isolates.

• Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections
• Invasive Pneumococcal Disease

Annual Public Reports

Contact Us

Streptococcus and STI Unit
Bacteriology and Enteric Diseases Program
National Microbiology Laboratory
Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health
1015 Arlington Street
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3E 3R2

Tel: (204) 789-6063
Fax: (204) 789-5012
E-mail: NML.StrepSTI@phac-aspc.gc.ca