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Postmortem diagnosis of sudden unexpected death from Streptococcus suis type 2 infection: a case report

Boonsak Hanterdsith1, Prasit Tharavichitkul, Pongsak Mahanupab

  • 1Department of Emergency Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Maharaj Nakhonratsima Hospital, Thailand. trapezius60@yahoo.com

Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine
|April 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Sudden death in humans from Streptococcus suis type 2 infection is rare. This case highlights the importance of postmortem investigations for identifying this zoonotic pathogen.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Human Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen causing severe illness in pigs and humans.
  • Meningitis, septicemia, and endocarditis are common clinical manifestations.
  • Sudden death due to S. suis is infrequently documented, especially in forensic contexts.

Observation:

  • A 49-year-old male presented with sudden death.
  • S. suis type 2 infection was identified as the cause of death.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed through bacterial culture, biochemical tests, PCR, and histopathology.

Findings:

  • This case represents a rare instance of pre-mortem diagnosis failure leading to sudden death.
  • Comprehensive diagnostic methods confirmed S. suis type 2 as the causative agent.
  • The study emphasizes the utility of molecular and histopathological techniques in postmortem S. suis identification.

Implications:

  • Accurate postmortem diagnosis of S. suis is crucial for public health.
  • Understanding S. suis pathogenesis aids in preventing zoonotic transmission.
  • This case underscores the need for vigilance in diagnosing S. suis infections, even in unexpected presentations.

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