Streptococcal infection in young pigs. IV. An outbreak of streptococcal meningitis in weaned pigs

J Hyg (Lond). 1975 Aug;75(1):69-78. doi: 10.1017/s0022172400047070.

Abstract

Twenty-eight pigs died in an outbreak of streptococcal meningitis in an East Anglian herd. Most were 10-14 weeks old. The outbreak lasted from January to April and was finally controlled by antibiotic therapy. A similar number of losses had occurred in the previous year though no diagnosis had then been made. The causal agent appeared to be a haemolytic streptococcus belonging to group D and provisionally designated Streptococcus suis type 2. It is probably identical with de Moor's group R streptococcus which causes a similar disease in the Netherlands. It is serologically distinct from Streptococcus suis type 1 which causes meningitis in piglets. Type 2 infection in pigs appears to be widespread in England and Wales and to occur in animals up to the age of at least 14 weeks. A comparison is drawn between Str. suis meningitis in pigs and group B streptococcal meningitis in human infants.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Agglutination Tests
  • Animals
  • Autopsy
  • Disease Outbreaks / veterinary*
  • Enterococcus faecalis / isolation & purification
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Meningitis / microbiology
  • Meningitis / veterinary*
  • Precipitin Tests
  • Serology
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary*
  • Swine
  • Swine Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Swine Diseases / microbiology
  • United Kingdom