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''A.suis'' is a beta-haemolytic Gram-negative bacterium. Strains of ''A.Suis'' vary due to differences in their lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which is known as the 'O' antigen and is referred to as O1,O2 and O3 and capsules (CPS), called 'K' antigen with variants described as K1, K2 and K3.
''A.suis'' is a beta-haemolytic Gram-negative bacterium. Strains of ''A.Suis'' vary due to differences in their lipopolysaccharides (LPS), which is known as the 'O' antigen and is referred to as O1,O2 and O3 and capsules (CPS), called 'K' antigen with variants described as K1, K2 and K3.
In piglets aged 1 to 8 weeks old the organism causes acute and rapidly fatal septicaemia, and localized infections such as endocarditis, polyarthritis, and respiratory distress may also been seen with additional neurological signs. Adult pigs can suffer pneumonia like symptoms, see [[Actinobacillus suis| clinical signs]] for more details. Although ''A.suis'' mainly affects pigs it has also been linked to septicaemia, acute haemorrhagic pulmonary infarction and necrotizing pneumonia in horses, airsaculitis in waterfowl, neonatal calf pneumonia and localised infections and polyarthritis in alpacas. It is not considered a zoonosis but there has been a report of human infection after a pig bite <ref>Escande, F., Bailly, A., Bone, S., Lemozy, J. (1996)'''Actinobacillus suis infection after a pig bite'''. '''''Lancet''''' (British edition), 348(9031):888; 5 ref</ref>.
In piglets aged 1 to 8 weeks old the organism causes acute and rapidly fatal septicaemia, and localized infections such as endocarditis, polyarthritis, and respiratory distress may also been seen with additional neurological signs. Adult pigs can suffer pneumonia like symptoms, see [[Actinobacillus suis| clinical signs]] for more details. Although ''A.suis'' mainly affects pigs it has also been linked to septicaemia, acute haemorrhagic pulmonary infarction and necrotizing pneumonia in horses, airsaculitis in waterfowl, neonatal calf pneumonia and localised infections and polyarthritis in alpacas. It is not considered a zoonosis but there has been a report of human infection after a pig bite <ref>Escande, F., Bailly, A., Bone, S., Lemozy, J. (1996)'''Actinobacillus suis infection after a pig bite'''. '''''Lancet''''' (British edition), 348(9031):888; 5 ref</ref>.
''A.suis'' have genes that encode toxins similar to apxI and apxII of ''A. pleuropneumoniae'', but are less virulent as they produce less Apx toxins than ''A. pleuropneumoniae''. Once an animal is infected with ''A.suis'' it can provide partial cross protection against ''A. pleuropneumoniae''. [[File:Actinobacillus suis.jpg|thumb|200px|right| A.suis]]
''A.suis'' have genes that encode toxins similar to apxI and apxII of ''A. pleuropneumoniae'', but are less virulent as they produce less Apx toxins than ''A. pleuropneumoniae''. Once an animal is infected with ''A.suis'' it can provide partial cross protection against ''A. pleuropneumoniae''.
==Signalment==
==Signalment==
''A.Suis'' can be found worldwide in both healthy and diseased animals which are genetically and biochemically similar. Wild hosts include anatidae (ducks, geese and swans) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Coypu] but A.suis can also affect domestic species including dogs, cats, [[Actinobacillus equuli| horses]], [[Actinobacillosis - Cattle| cattle]], sheep, goats, alpacas and zebu.
''A.Suis'' can be found worldwide in both healthy and diseased animals which are genetically and biochemically similar. Wild hosts include anatidae (ducks, geese and swans) and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Coypu] but A.suis can also affect domestic species including dogs, cats, [[Actinobacillus equuli| horses]], [[Actinobacillosis - Cattle| cattle]], sheep, goats, alpacas and zebu.
'''Differential diagnosis''': [[Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae| ''A. pleuropneumoniae'']], [[Erysipelas - Pig
'''Differential diagnosis''': [[Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae| ''A. pleuropneumoniae'']], [[Erysipelas - Pig
| ''Erysipelas'']], [[Glasser's Disease| ''Glasser’s disease'']], [[Streptococcus suis| ''Streptococcus suis'']], and [[Mulberry Heart Disease| ''Mulberry heart disease'']].
| ''Erysipelas'']], [[Glasser's Disease| ''Glasser’s disease'']], [[Streptococcus suis| ''Streptococcus suis'']], and [[Mulberry Heart Disease| ''Mulberry heart disease'']].
On post-mortem serous or fibrinous exudates can be found in the thorax and pericardium and ecchymotic haemorrhages can be seen in kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen and other organisms.
On post-mortem serous or fibrinous exudates can be found in the thorax and pericardium and ecchymotic haemorrhages can be seen in kidneys, lungs, liver, spleen and other organisms.[[File:Actinobacillus suis.jpg|thumb|200px|right| Actinobacillus suis. Gram stain]]
==Treatment==
==Treatment==
''A.suis'' has good sensitivity to ceftioufur, gentamicin and trimethoprim/sulfadiazine, and moderate sensitivity to ampicillin, neomycin, sulfadimethoxine and tiamulin. Culture and sensitivity is recommended.
''A.suis'' has good sensitivity to ceftioufur, gentamicin and trimethoprim/sulfadiazine, and moderate sensitivity to ampicillin, neomycin, sulfadimethoxine and tiamulin. Culture and sensitivity is recommended.