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Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model
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Intracranial Subarachnoidal Route of Infection for Investigating Roles of Streptococcus suis Biofilms in Meningitis in a Mouse Infection Model

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[Occurrence and diagnostic relevance of virulence-associated factors in Streptococcus suis]

C G Baums1, L M Da Silva, R Goethe

  • 1Institut für Mikrobiologie, Zentrum für Infektionsmedizin, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Hannover. christoph.baums@gmx.de

DTW. Deutsche Tierarztliche Wochenschrift
|October 17, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Certain Streptococcus suis strains (serotype 2 and 9) expressing specific virulence factors are linked to invasive diseases like meningitis. However, identifying all virulent strains requires further research beyond current markers.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Microbiology
  • Bacterial Pathogenesis
  • Molecular Epidemiology

Context:

  • Streptococcus suis (Sc. suis) causes diverse diseases in pigs, ranging from pneumonia to severe systemic infections.
  • Virulence factors are crucial for Sc. suis invasiveness, particularly in meningitis, septicemia, and polyarthritis.
  • Understanding these factors aids in diagnosing and controlling Sc. suis infections in swine populations.

Purpose:

  • To investigate the prevalence of known virulence-associated factors in Sc. suis isolates from Northern Germany.
  • To evaluate the significance of these factors in different Sc. suis-associated disease complexes.
  • To identify specific Sc. suis strains associated with invasive disease manifestations.

Summary:

  • Sc. suis strains positive for both MRP and EF, belonging to serotype 2, and strains with MRP* and EF, belonging to serotype 9, were significantly associated with meningitis/septicemia/arthritis, indicating invasiveness.
  • Serotyping alone is insufficient for identifying virulent Sc. suis strains; pneumonia-associated strains exhibit considerable heterogeneity.
  • Haemolysin and suilysin activities are not reliable virulence markers for Sc. suis; current virulence factor detection characterizes only half of invasive isolates.

Impact:

  • Identifies specific Sc. suis serotypes (2 and 9) and virulence factor combinations (MRP, EF) as indicators of invasive potential.
  • Highlights the limitations of current diagnostic markers, emphasizing the need for novel, serotype-independent virulence factors.
  • Informs veterinary diagnostics and disease control strategies for Streptococcus suis infections in swine.

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