Hyaluronatelyase produced by various microorganisms are capable of degrading
hyaluronic acid in connective tissues and initiating the spread of infection by opening an
access for the pathogen into host tissues. The present study attempts to determine the
distribution of hyaluronatelyase-producing Streptococcus pneumoniae among invasive, noninvasive
and carriage isolates, and correlate it with the clinical sources, year of isolation,
colonial morphology and their serotypes. A total of 100 isolates from various clinical samples
were selected and screened for hyaluronatelyase production and presence of the encoding
SpnHyl gene. All isolates possessed SpnHyl gene. Ninety-six isolates including 34 carriage
isolates were positive for production of hyaluronatelyase. Four hyaluronatelyase-negative
isolates were from blood (2 isolates) and sputum (2 isolates). No significant association was
detected among hyaluronatelyase production and bacterial characteristics except for colonial
morphology (p = 0.040). High percentages of hyaluronatelyase production in these isolates
suggest their possible role as human pathogens.