The isolation of Streptococcus suis types 1 and 2 from pigs in New Zealand

Authors: Robertson ID
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 33, Issue 9, pp 148, Sep 1985
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Pig, Production animal
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Nervous system/neurology, Diagnostic procedures, Joint/arthrology, Locomotor, Disease/defect, Infectious disease
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: I wish to advise of the recent isolation of Streptococcus suis types 1 and 2 from pigs in New Zealand. Type 1 was isolated from brain and joint swabs from a three-week-old piglet. The piglet had meningitis, was laterally recumbent, paddling and had arthritis with grossly swollen joints. Type 2 was isolated from tonsils collected from apparently normal bacon pigs slaughtered at a meat works. Isolates were confirmed as either Streptococcus suis type 1 or 2 on the basis of biochemical characteristics and Lancefield precipitin tests using S and R antisera as originally used by De Moor. Overseas work has shown that Type 1, which affects piglets under six weeks of age, and Type 2, which affects weaners and growers, are the most common causes of meningitis in pigs. Affected pigs show signs of either into-ordination, staggering, lateral recumbency, paddling, opisthotonus and tetanic convulsions or merely sudden death. The organism can also be associated with bronchopneumonia, septicaemia and polyarthritis. The organisms can be isolated from tonsils, and healthy tonsillar carriers play an important role in...

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