[Streptococcus suis infection, a zoonosis we should have in mind--2 case reports]

Streptococcus suis is primarily pig's pathogen, but can cause disease in a man exposed to contact with pigs (butchers, abatoir workers, farmers). Infection in man is most frequently manifested as purulent meningitis, with deafness and ataxia, but there are rare reports on septic shock with multiple organ failure and death. We report two patients with Streptococcus suis type 1 infection, treated in "Dr Josip Bencević" General Hospital, Slavonski Brod. The first patient suffered a very abrupt and severe illness, with septic shock, multiple organ failure and lethal outcome. The second patient had purulent meningitis with deafness. Both of them had a defect in immunologic function before infection. They were probably infected during manipulation with pork meat at home. Our patients had infection with Streptococcus suis type 1, contrary to reports on prevalent human infection with type 2. It is necessary to make epidemiologic survey on human infection with that pathogen, especially in those professionally exposed to pigs and pork meat.