Streptococcus suis: Epidemiology and resistance evolution of an emerging zoonotic bacteria

The health of humans and the growth of the agriculture industry are seriously threatened by the emerging zoonotic pathogen Streptococcus suis (S. suis). In the last decades, evolutionary studies have significantly enhanced our understanding of S. suis. Currently, S. suis is widespread across numerous countries, in which it displays diverse serotypes and complex population structures. The widespread use of antibiotics across the globe has resulted in significant multi-drug resistance among clinical isolates of S. suis, creating a serious challenge in treating infections and presenting a considerable risk to public health and safety. This article briefly describes the transmission routes and infection symptoms of S. suis between different species, particularly in pigs and humans. The epidemiological situation and differences of S. suis in humans and pigs are further analyzed from three aspects of serotype, MLST, and WGS. Finally, the latest research progress on drug resistance mechanism of S. suis was reviewed. A deep understanding of the epidemiological situation and antimicrobial resistance characteristics of S. suis is crucial for crucial for mitigating the emergence of superbugs and for innovating new molecules or combinations of antimicrobials.