Streptococcus suis
| Streptococcus suis | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Firmicutes |
| Class | Bacilli |
| Order | Lactobacillales |
| Family | Streptococcaceae |
| Genus | Streptococcus |
| Species | S. suis |
Introduction
Streptococcus suis is best known for causing multisystemic disease and mortality in pigs and septicaemia in poultry. It is one of the Streptococcus genus of gram positive cocci bacteria.
There are many serotypes of S. suis, most clinical infections generate isolates of capsule types 1-8. Capsule type 2 is responsible for most human infections
Lifecycle
The bacterium is a commensal of healthy pigs and is carried in the tonsils of asymptomatic carrier pigs. It is transmitted via respiratory secretions, ingestion of faeces or exudates or vertically from sows. Disease usually presents after a stressful incident allows opportunistic infection by resident microflora from the respiratory or gastrointestinal tracts.
Pathogenesis
Virulence factors for S. suis include fimbriae, haemagglutinins, capsular antigens, cell wall proteins, IgG binding proteins and haemolysins. The capsule protects the bacteria from phagocytosis.[1]
Diseases
Disease is often multisystemic and includes meningitis, arthritis, Pericarditis, pneumonia, endocarditis, rhinitis and septicaemia most notably in pigs and poultry but also in cattle, horses, dogs, cats and people. S. suis is a zoonosis of utmost importance.
See Streptococcus & Enterococcus Infections - Pigs and Streptococcus & Enterococcus Infections - Poultry for details.
| Streptococcus suis Learning Resources | |
|---|---|
 Test your knowledge using flashcard type questions |
S. suis Flashcards |
References
- ↑ Smith, H. E., Damman, M., Velde, Jvan der., Wagenaar, F., Wisselink, H. J., Stockhofe-Zurwieden, N., Smits, M. A (1999) Identification and characterization of the cps locus of Streptococcus suis serotype 2: the capsule protects against phagocytosis and is an important virulence factor. Infection and Immunity, 67(4):1750-1756; 43
Animal Health & Production Compendium, Streptococcus suis datasheet, accessed 04/06/2011 @ http://www.cabi.org/ahpc/