[Enzootic streptococcal infection in a piglet production plant]

Within a herd a syndrome affecting mainly sows occurred, with signs of apathy, anorexia or inappetence, subclinical to slight increase of body temperature and--as the prime symptom--skin hemorrhages appeared 2 to 3 days before parturition, during the lactation peak and in hot weather. By means of autopsy, histological investigations of affected skin areas, antibody and antigen evidence of Streptococcus (Sc.) MG and Sc. sanguis in blood cultures, streptococci could be found to be partly responsible for the disease mentioned above. Nearly all sows with clinical symptoms showed a significant neutrophilia and eosinophilia. Severely affected animals exhibited marked thrombocytopenia which could be due to the high levels of deoxynivalenol in the feed. A herd-specific vaccine of streptococci only temporarily succeeded.