The detection of pigs carrying Streptococcus suis type 2

Authors: Blackmore DK, Robertson ID
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 1-2, pp 1-4, Jan 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Pig, Production animal
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Diagnostic procedures, Mortality/morbidity, Disease/defect, Infectious disease
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: An indirect fluorescent antibody test (I.F.A.T.) was performed on tonsillar swabs collected at slaughter and on nasal swabs from electrically stunned pigs prior to exsanguination. The identification of carriers of Streptococcus suis type 2 using the I.F.A.T. was compared with bacteriological isolation. If it is assumed that 100% of pigs were carrying the bacterium, 76% of 89 carriers were detected when the I.F.A.T. was performed on the bacterial growth from blood agar cultures of tonsillar swabs, compared with only 15% detected using cultural techniques. Similarly, I.F.A.T. on nasal swabs increased the sensitivity of the detection of carriers. Nasal swabbing, although of lower sensitivity than tonsillar swabbing, allows for the detection of S. suis type 2 carriers in the live animal.

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