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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. S. Windsor  and
S. D. Elliott
R. S. Windsor
Affiliation:
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Veterinary Investigation Centre, Madingley Road, Cambridge
S. D. Elliott
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge
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Summary

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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.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 75 , Issue 1 , August 1975 , pp. 69 - 78
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1975

References

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