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Review
7.
Streptococcus suis: an important zoonotic
pathogen for human : prevention aspects -
V. G. Papatsiros, D. Vourvidis, A. A. Tzitzis, P.
S. Meichanetsidis, D. Stougiou, D. Mintza, P. S.
Papaioannou
Vet World. 2011; 4(5): 216-221
doi:
10.5455/vetworld.2011.216-221
Abstract
Streptococcus suis is a major porcine pathogen,
causing economical health worldwide problems in
the global swine industry. It is also emerging as
a zoonotic agent capable of causing severe
invasive disease in humans exposed to pigs or pork
products. The most important clinical sign in
swine and human is meningitis, but other
pathological conditions have also been described.
Serotype 2 is the most commonly associated with
diseases in pigs and humans, and also the most
frequently reported serotype isolated from
diseased animals worldwide. The majority of human
infection occurs in pork handlers, particularly in
slaughterhouse workers and by minor wounds or skin
abrasions contaminated by raw pork or viscera of
pigs. Veterinarians should also be aware that a
low but real risk may be present when manipulating
S. suis-diseased animals that are probably
shedding high numbers of this pathogen. Up today,
in Greece there is no published epidemiological
data for S. suis serotypes in swine herds and the
zoonotic risk of S. suis infection in human with
daily contact with pigs and pork meat. However, in
our experience clinical forms of S. suis infection
are common in most greek swine farms. The aim of
this review study is to perform recent information
about S. suis infection in swine and human, focus
on zoonotic risk of this emerging pathogen and
prevention strategies.
Keywords:
streptococcus suis, swine, human, emerging
pathogen, zoonotic risk, pork meat
