Introduction: Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a gram positive cocci acquired through exposure to infected swine. The most common clinical manifestation is meningitis often accompanied by bacteremia. S. suis is an emerging pathogen with significant complications, but remains to be underreported. Only 1,584 cases of S. suis infection have been reported worldwide with most of the cases concentrated in Southeast Asia where swine quantity is high. Case Presentation: We report a case of a 52-year-old male who came in due to fever, generalized violaceous purpuric rash, headache, and nuchal rigidity. Patient was diagnosed with meningitis clinically. Patient consumed a diseased swine five days prior to admission. Blood culture was positive for S. suis II and clinical improvement was achieved with antibiotic treatment and administration of Dexamethasone. On follow-up check; however, patient had residual deafness on bilateral ears, which prompted referral to ENT service for further work-up and management. Our patient is the second Filipino and the first documented case to be diagnosed in the Philippines. Conclusion Despite a booming hog industry in the Philippines and increasing prevalence in its neighboring countries, S. suis infection remains unreported in our country due to either lack of available diagnostics or misdiagnoses; therefore, a good clinical skills and high index of suspicion are warranted in the initial diagnosis of patients infected with S. suis. In order to prevent epidemic outbreak in the future, simple preventive measures like handwashing and wearing gloves after handling raw pork meat should always be practiced. With an increased awareness among clinicians and microbiologists and vigilance among high-risk individuals, we will promote early diagnosis of this pathogen and prevention of its sequelae
Streptococcus suis ; Meningitis

Streptococcus suis is a bacterial pathogen causing a wide range of infections including meningitis, lung infections, arthritis, sepsis and endocarditis.1 Over the years, an increasing number of cases have been reported among humans especially in countries in Southeast Asia specifically in Vietnam and Thailand where pig-rearing is common.2 One of the prominent symptoms of S. suis infection is hearing loss that may be present during the onset or a few days after.1 We report two cases of adult S. suis meningitis presenting with bilateral hearing loss.
Streptococcus suis ; Meningitis ; Hearing Loss

China ; epidemiology ; Humans ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification

Humans ; Research ; trends ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; Streptococcus suis

Molecular Sequence Data ; Ribotyping ; Streptococcus suis ; classification ; genetics

Animals ; Antibodies, Bacterial ; blood ; Luminescent Measurements ; methods ; Streptococcus suis ; immunology ; Swine

OBJECTIVETo identify antigenic proteins secreted by Streptococcus suis (S. suis) type 2 strain SC84.

METHODSTwo-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), western-blot assay and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight-mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) analysis were performed to search and identify antigenic proteins secreted by S. suis strain SC84, which triggered an outbreak of the disease in Sichuan province,China, in 2005.

RESULTSA total number of 14 western blot spots were found on PVDF membrane. 11 spots which could be found the existence of matching protein on coomassie G-250-stained 2-DE gel were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. The 11 proteins, all located at extra-cellular or cell wall, were classified into 8 kinds of proteins. Among of them, muramidase-released protein (MRP), suilysin (Sly) and extra-cellular factor (EF) were the known antigenic proteins, but several proteins such as putative 5'-nucleotidase, ribo-nucleases G and E, and predicted metal-loendo-peptidase were newly found antigenic proteins. All the identified protein were found to have had the coding gene in genomic of S. suis strain 05ZYH33, isolated from patients in Sichuan province, China in 2005.

CONCLUSIONThe newly found proteins could be used as voluntary antigens for detection and vaccination of S. suis.

Bacterial Proteins ; analysis ; immunology ; Humans ; Proteomics ; Streptococcal Infections ; Streptococcus suis ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; metabolism

Adult ; Aged ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcus suis ; pathogenicity

China ; Genes, Bacterial ; Sequence Analysis ; Streptococcus suis ; classification ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; Virulence Factors ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo rapidly and sensitively detect the four virulence-associated factors of Streptococcus suis, a multiplex PCR was developed.

METHODSIn the process of this reaction, four distinct DNA targets were amplified. One target was based on the serotype 2 (and 1/2) specific cps gene and the others were based on Streptococcus suis mrp, epf (epf*) and sly gene, encoding the MRP, EF(EF*) and Sly proteins of Streptococcus suis. 72 isolates, which including 48 strains of Streptococcus suis and 24 strains of negative control, and 49 clinical specimens were detected by the multiplex PCR assay.

RESULTSAll PCR products were detected by electrophoresis on 1.2% agarose gels. With the 48 Streptococcus suis strains, the positive detection rates of cps2+, mrp+, epf+, epf*+ and sly+ were 16/48, 14/48, 12/48, 3/48 and 26/48,respectively. The results were confirmed by bacteriological examination. There were no specific amplification products including 49 clinical specimens and 24 negative control strains.

CONCLUSIONThe results demonstrated that multiplex PCR was a highly specific and sensitive diagnostic tool for the detection of virulence-associated factors of streptococcus suis.

Bacterial Proteins ; genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; methods ; Streptococcus suis ; genetics ; pathogenicity ; Virulence Factors ; genetics