Helcococcus ovis

Helcococcus ovis is a catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic, gram-positive coccus belonging to the Peptostreptococcaceae family. Helcococcus are commonly found on the skin and superficial skin wounds of humans.

In 2017, a 7-year-old rooster in California developed valvular vegetative endocarditis, myocarditis and hepatitis resulting from infection with Helcococcus ovis. Prior to this case, Helcococcus was never reported in avian species before.