Bacterial Diseases - STREPTOCOCCOSIS

AGENT:

The causative agents are various streptococci species, including Streptococcus suis and S. zooepidemicus.

RESERVOIR AND INCIDENCE

Pigs are the reservoir of S. suis.

TRANSMISSION:

Humans are infected with S. suis by handling infected meat. S. zooepidemicus has occurred in persons in direct contact with domestic animals and from drinking raw milk.

DISEASE IN ANIMALS:

S. suis epizootics may occur in pigs with high mortality, heralded by signs of meningitis including depression, fever, incoordination and paralysis. Suppurative arthritis may occur. More usually the disease is subclinical. S. zooepidemicus may cause mastitis in cattle.

DISEASE IN MAN:

S. suis causes fever and occasionally meningitis. S. zooepidemicus may cause upper respiratory tract symptoms, cervical adenitis, pneumonia, endocarditis and nephritis. A fatality rate of 8% has been reported for S. suis, with residual deafness in a high proportion of survivors.

DIAGNOSIS:

Isolation and culture

TREATMENT:

Benzathine Penicillin G. for persons allergic to penicillin, erythromycin is an effective alternative. However, increasing reports of resistance from Europe threatens its clinical utility.

PREVENTION/CONTROL:

Exercise caution in handling pig meat. Dress all wounds to avoid contamination. Pasteurize milk.

Anthrax	Erysipeloid	Salmonellosis
Blastomycosis	Glanders	Shigellosis
Borreliosis	Leprosy	Staphylococcal food poisoning
Brucellosis	Leptospirosis	Streptococcosis
Campylobacteriosis	Listeriosis	Tuberculosis
Capnocytophaga	Lyme Disease	Tularemia
Cat Scratch Disease	Melioidosis	Vibriosis
Clostridial Infections	Pasteurellosis	Yersinia pestis
Colibacillosis	Psittacosis	Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and enterocolitica
Dermatophilosis	Rat Bite Fever