What is group C strep?

The Lee Spark NF Foundation reports that group C strep is a strain of the streptococci bacteria that can infect humans but is most commonly found in horses and cattle. Strep C gets transmitted from person to person because it is able to live on the skin and mucous membranes.

University of Portland Health Center points out that the rapid strep test used to diagnose the most common form of strep in humans, strep A, is not good for detecting strep C. Typically, a doctor swabs the throat and sends the swab to a lab to confirm the presence of strep C. Once strep C is confirmed, the doctor prescribes the appropriate antibiotic to treat the infection.