Update on Streptococcus suis Research and Prevention in the Era of Antimicrobial Restriction: 4th International Workshop on S. suis

Streptococcus suis is a swine pathogen and a zoonotic agent afflicting people in close contact with infected pigs or pork meat. Sporadic cases of human infections have been reported worldwide. In addition, S. suis outbreaks emerged in Asia, making this bacterium a primary health concern in this part of the globe. In pigs, S. suis disease results in decreased performance and increased mortality, which have a significant economic impact on swine production worldwide. Facing the new regulations in preventive use of antimicrobials in livestock and lack of effective vaccines, control of S. suis infections is worrisome. Increasing and sharing of knowledge on this pathogen is of utmost importance. As such, the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the infection, antimicrobial resistance, progress on diagnosis, prevention, and control were among the topics discussed during the 4th International Workshop on Streptococcus suis (held in Montreal, Canada, June 2019). This review gathers together recent findings on this important pathogen from lectures performed by lead researchers from several countries including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Thailand, The Netherlands, UK, and USA. Finally, policies and recommendations for the manufacture, quality control, and use of inactivated autogenous vaccines are addressed to advance this important field in veterinary medicine.

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Streptococcus suis: An Underestimated Emerging Pathogen in Hungary?

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8091292 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (9) ◽

pp. 1292 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Márió Gajdács ◽

Anita Németh ◽

Márta Knausz ◽

Ibrahim Barrak ◽

Anette Stájer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Close Contact ◽

Streptococcus Suis ◽

Study Data ◽

Production And Consumption ◽

Serious Infections ◽

History Of ◽

Human Infections ◽

Diagnostic Technologies ◽

Epidemiological Characteristics ◽

East Central European

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen, demonstrated as an etiological agent in human infections in increasing frequency, including diseases like purulent meningitis, sepsis, uveitis-endophtalmitis and arthritis. Due to the increased availability and utility of novel diagnostic technologies in clinical microbiology, more studies have been published on the epidemiology of S. suis, both in veterinary and human medicine; however, there are no comprehensive data available regarding human S. suis infections from East-Central European countries. As a part of our study, data were collected from the National Bacteriological Surveillance (NBS) system on patients who had at least one positive microbiological result for S. suis, corresponding to an 18-year study period (2002–2019). n = 74 S. suis strains were isolated from invasive human infections, corresponding to 34 patients. The number of affected patients was 1.89 ± 1.53/year (range: 0–5). Most isolates originated from blood culture (63.5%) and cerebrospinal fluid (18.9%) samples. Additionally, we present detailed documentation of three instructive cases from three regions of the country and with three distinctly different outcomes. Hungary has traditional agriculture, the significant portion of which includes the production and consumption of pork meat, with characteristic preparation and consumption customs and unfavorable epidemiological characteristics (alcohol consumption, prevalence of malignant diseases or diabetes), which have all been described as important predisposing factors for the development of serious infections. Clinicians and microbiologist need to be vigilant even in nonendemic areas, especially if the patients have a history of occupational hazards or having close contact with infected pigs.

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Occurrence and the first report of Naegleria australiensis presence in a major lake in the Philippines

Journal of Water and Health ◽

10.2166/wh.2019.034 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 (4) ◽

pp. 647-653 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Giovanni Milanez ◽

Frederick Masangkay ◽

Voravuth Somsak ◽

Manas Kotepui ◽

Jitbanjong Tangpong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Samples ◽

Close Contact ◽

Public Awareness ◽

The Philippines ◽

Subsurface Water ◽

Control Programs ◽

Urban Settlements ◽

Laguna De Bay ◽

Human Infections ◽

And Control

Abstract Laguna de Bay or Laguna Lake is one of the six major lakes in the Philippines to be in close contact with population activities due to the expansion of urban settlements in the immediate cities surrounding the lake, thus pushing the population to settle upon its shores. To date, there are no data showing the biodiversity of free-living amoebae (FLA) present in this lake. The present study aims to isolate and identify the FLA present in Laguna de Bay, Philippines. Thirty subsurface water samples were taken from Laguna De Bay using random purposive sampling in May 2018 and were examined for amoebic growth under light microscopy (LM). Results show that 8 out of 30 (26.6%) water samples were positive for amoebic growth and were further tested for more advanced data and genetic variation of the species. Initial molecular analysis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing showed the presence of potentially pathogenic FLA Naegleria australiensis (MK418954). The detection of potential pathogenic FLA in lakes and dams may prove useful in preventing and controlling possible human infections in the country. More data from this study will aid in public awareness and establishing safety guidelines and control programs.

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Streptococcus suis Research: Progress and Challenges

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens9090707 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 707 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Mariela Segura

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Close Contact ◽

Streptococcus Suis ◽

Control Measures ◽

Health Concern ◽

Research Progress ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Swine Industry ◽

Host Animal ◽

Prophylactic Use

Streptococcus suis is considered among the top bacterial pathogens leading to important economic losses to the swine industry, with the incidence of disease increasing as the prophylactic use of antimicrobial is being vanished worldwide. S. suis is also a zoonotic agent afflicting people in close contact with infected pigs or pork meat. Besides, in some Asian countries, it is considered a major public health concern for the general population as well. Antimicrobial resistance is one of the most important global health challenges, and in the absence of preventive measures (such as effective vaccines), S. suis remains a risk for increased antimicrobial resistance and transmission of resistance genes to other bacteria beyond the host animal species. The studies in this Special Issue have evidenced the importance of swine population demographics and management on disease control, progress in molecular tools to better understand the epidemiology of S. suis infections in swine and humans, and the mechanisms involved in different aspects of the immuno-pathogenesis of the disease. The importance of reducing the prophylactic use of antimicrobials in livestock productions and the development of alternative control measures, including vaccination, are herein discussed.

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Draft Genome Sequences of Nine Streptococcus suis Strains Isolated in the United States

Genome Announcements ◽

10.1128/genomea.01301-15 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (6) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Samantha J. Hau ◽

Darrell O. Bayles ◽

David P. Alt ◽

Susan L. Brockmeier ◽

Timothy S. Frana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Close Contact ◽

Draft Genome ◽

Streptococcus Suis ◽

The United States ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

Pork Products ◽

Swine Pathogen ◽

Severe Infections ◽

Undercooked Pork

Streptococcus suis is a swine pathogen responsible for economic losses to the pig industry worldwide. Additionally, it is a zoonotic agent that can cause severe infections in those in close contact with infected pigs and/or who consume uncooked or undercooked pork products. Here, we report nine draft genome sequences of S. suis .

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Stochastic Assessment of the Economic Impact of Streptococcus suis-Associated Disease in German, Dutch and Spanish Swine Farms

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.676002 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Carlos Neila-Ibáñez ◽

Jordi Casal ◽

Isabel Hennig-Pauka ◽

Norbert Stockhofe-Zurwieden ◽

Marcelo Gottschalk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Disease Incidence ◽

Economic Assessment ◽

Streptococcus Suis ◽

Control Measures ◽

Allocation Of Resources ◽

Beta Lactams ◽

Swine Production ◽

Nursery Pigs ◽

And Control

The economic assessment of animal diseases is essential for decision-making, including the allocation of resources for disease control. However, that assessment is usually hampered by the lack of reliable data on disease incidence, or treatment and control measures, and that is particularly true for swine production diseases, such as infections caused by Streptococcus suis. Therefore, we deployed a questionnaire survey of clinical swine veterinarians to obtain the input data needed for a stochastic model to calculate the costs caused by S. suis, which was implemented in three of the main swine producing countries in Europe: Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. S. suis-associated disease is endemic in those countries in all production phases, though nursery was the phase most severely impacted. In affected nursery units, between 3.3 and 4.0% of pigs had S. suis-associated disease and the mortalities ranged from 0.5 to 0.9%. In Germany, the average cost of S. suis per pig (summed across all production phases) was 1.30 euros (90% CI: 0.53–2.28), in the Netherlands 0.96 euros (90% CI: 0.27–1.54), and in Spain 0.60 euros (90% CI: 0.29–0.96). In Germany, that cost was essentially influenced by the expenditure in early metaphylaxis in nursery and in autogenous vaccines in sows and nursery pigs; in the Netherlands, by expenditure on autogenous vaccines in sows and nursery pigs; and in Spain, by the expenditures in early metaphylaxis and to a lesser extent by the mortality in nursery pigs. Therefore, the differences in costs between countries can be explained to a great extent by the measures to control S. suis implemented in each country. In Spain and in Germany, use of antimicrobials, predominantly beta-lactams, is still crucial for the control of the disease.

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Detection of Streptococcus suis in Bioaerosols of Swine Confinement Buildings

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.04167-13 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 80 (11) ◽

pp. 3296-3304 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Laetitia Bonifait ◽

Marc Veillette ◽

Valérie Létourneau ◽

Daniel Grenier ◽

Caroline Duchaine

Keyword(s):

Membrane Integrity ◽

Streptococcus Suis ◽

Content Type ◽

Cell Membrane Integrity ◽

Swine Pathogen ◽

Swine Confinement ◽

Nasal Swabs ◽

Qpcr Method ◽

Human Infections ◽

Number Of Bacteria

ABSTRACTStreptococcus suisis an important swine pathogen that can cause septicemia, meningitis, and pneumonia. Also recognized as an emerging zoonotic agent, it is responsible for outbreaks of human infections in Asian countries. Serotype 2 is the predominant isolate from diseased animals and humans. The aerosolization ofS. suisin the air of swine confinement buildings (SCB) was studied. The presence ofS. suisin bioaerosols was monitored in SCB where cases of infection had been reported and in healthy SCB without reported infections. Using a quantitative-PCR (qPCR) method, we determined the total number of bacteria (1 × 108to 2 × 108airborne/m3), total number ofS. suisbacteria (4 × 105to 10 × 105airborne/m3), and number ofS. suisserotype 2 and 1/2 bacteria (1 × 103to 30 × 103airborne/m3) present in the air.S. suisserotypes 2 and 1/2 were detected in the air of all growing/finishing SCB that had documented cases ofS. suisinfection and in 50% of healthy SCB. The total number of bacteria and total numbers ofS. suisandS. suisserotype 2 and 1/2 bacteria were monitored in one positive SCB during a 5-week period, and it was shown that the aerosolizedS. suisserotypes 2 and 1/2 remain airborne for a prolonged period. When the effect of aerosolization onS. suiswas observed, the percentage of intactS. suisbacteria (showing cell membrane integrity) in the air might have been up to 13%. FinallyS. suiswas found in nasal swabs from 14 out of 21 healthy finishing-SCB workers, suggesting significant exposure to the pathogen. This report provides a better understanding of the aerosolization, prevalence, and persistence ofS. suisin SCB.

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SARS-COV2 virus and Coronavirus disease (COVID-19)

International Journal of Research in Pharmaceutical Sciences ◽

10.26452/ijrps.v11ispl1.3401 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (SPL1) ◽

pp. 977-982

Author(s):

Mohamed J. Saadh ◽

Bashar Haj Rashid M ◽

Roa’a Matar ◽

Sajeda Riyad Aldibs ◽

Hala Sbaih ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Close Contact ◽

Antiviral Agents ◽

Health Concern ◽

The Novel ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Fatal Disease ◽

Mild Disease ◽

Life Threatening ◽

Novel Coronavirus

SARS-COV2 virus causes Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and represents the causative agent of a potentially fatal disease that is of great global public health concern. The novel coronavirus (2019) was discovered in 2019 in Wuhan, the market of the wet animal, China with viral pneumonia cases and is life-threatening. Today, WHO announces COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic. COVID-19 is likely to be zoonotic. It is transmitted from bats as intermediary animals to human. Also, the virus is transmitted from human to human who is in close contact with others. The computerized tomographic chest scan is usually abnormal even in those with no symptoms or mild disease. Treatment is nearly supportive; the role of antiviral agents is yet to be established. The SARS-COV2 virus spreads faster than its two ancestors, the SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), but has lower fatality. In this article, we aimed to summarize the transmission, symptoms, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and vaccine to control the spread of this fatal disease.

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A Legionnaires’ Disease Cluster in a Private Building in Italy

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18136922 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (13) ◽

pp. 6922

Author(s):

Maria Luisa Ricci ◽

Maria Cristina Rota ◽

Maria Grazia Caporali ◽

Antonietta Girolamo ◽

Maria Scaturro

Keyword(s):

Severe Pneumonia ◽

Control Measures ◽

Health Concern ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Domestic Water ◽

Quality Of Water ◽

Legionnaires Disease ◽

Prevention And Control Measures ◽

Private Homes ◽

And Control

Legionnaires’ disease (LD) is a severe pneumonia caused by bacteria belonging to the genus Legionella. This is a major public health concern and infections are steadily increasing worldwide. Several sources of infection have been identified, but they have not always been linked to human isolates by molecular match. The well-known Legionella contamination of private homes has rarely been associated with the acquisition of the disease, although some patients never left their homes during the incubation period. This study demonstrated by genomic matching between clinical and environmental Legionella isolates that the source of an LD cluster was a private building. Monoclonal antibodies and sequence-based typing were used to type the isolates, and the results clearly demonstrated the molecular relationship between the strains highlighting the risk of contracting LD at home. To contain this risk, the new European directive on the quality of water intended for human consumption has introduced for the first time Legionella as a microbiological parameter to be investigated in domestic water systems. This should lead to a greater attention to prevention and control measures for domestic Legionella contamination and, consequently, to a possible reduction in community acquired LD cases.

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Human Cystic Echinococcosis in Lebanon: A Retrospective Study and Molecular Epidemiology

Acta Parasitologica ◽

10.1007/s11686-021-00453-w ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Gaelle Joanny ◽

Maria Grazia Cappai ◽

Francesca Nonnis ◽

Claudia Tamponi ◽

Giorgia Dessì ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Echinococcus Granulosus ◽

Cystic Echinococcosis ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Sensu Stricto ◽

Control Measures ◽

Mediterranean Countries ◽

High Gene ◽

Human Infections ◽

And Control ◽

Human Cystic Echinococcosis

Abstract Purpose Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease that constitutes a public health challenge and a socio-economic burden in endemic areas worldwide. No specific surveillance system of CE infections in humans exists in Lebanon. The incidence and trends over time have not been documented. The current study aimed to assess the demographic and epidemiologic features of human CE surgical cases over a 14-year period in the five main regions of Lebanon. Methods From 2005 to 2018, a total of 894 surgically confirmed cases of hydatidosis were recorded from five anatomy and pathology laboratories. Results The mean annual surgical incidence was 1.23/100,000 inhabitants. Over the span of these years, the incidence increased from 0.53 to 1.94 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2005 and 2018, respectively. CE is present in Lebanon with an uneven distribution from one region to the other with higher prevalence in Bekaa (29.0%), a rural area where sheep raising is widespread. Human CE cases were more common in females (60.1%) than in males (39.9%) and a high burden of infection was reported for the age group of 30–39 years. Besides, 66.7% of the cases expressed only liver complications whereas, 20.5% showed predilection towards lungs. The 7.8% of cases presented cysts in other organs, and 1.3% showed multiple localizations. Additionally, predominant involvement of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto was recorded in human infections. Comparison of Echinococcus granulosus s.s. populations from different Mediterranean countries also revealed high gene flow among this region and sharing of alleles. Conclusion The current study is a step forward to fill the gap of knowledge for the hydatidosis in Lebanon where the lack of epidemiological data and control measures have resulted in higher incidence of human CE. Graphic Abstract

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Agro-Environmental Determinants of Leptospirosis: A Retrospective Spatiotemporal Analysis (2004−2014) in Mahasarakham Province (Thailand)

Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease ◽

10.3390/tropicalmed6030115 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 115

Author(s):

Jaruwan Viroj ◽

Julien Claude ◽

Claire Lajaunie ◽

Julien Cappelle ◽

Anamika Kritiyakan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Animal Health ◽

Spatiotemporal Analysis ◽

Health Concern ◽

Intersectoral Collaboration ◽

The Public ◽

Additive Modeling ◽

The One ◽

And Control ◽

Northeastern Thailand

Leptospirosis has been recognized as a major public health concern in Thailand following dramatic outbreaks. We analyzed human leptospirosis incidence between 2004 and 2014 in Mahasarakham province, Northeastern Thailand, in order to identify the agronomical and environmental factors likely to explain incidence at the level of 133 sub-districts and 1,982 villages of the province. We performed general additive modeling (GAM) in order to take the spatial-temporal epidemiological dynamics into account. The results of GAM analyses showed that the average slope, population size, pig density, cow density and flood cover were significantly associated with leptospirosis occurrence in a district. Our results stress the importance of livestock favoring leptospirosis transmission to humans and suggest that prevention and control of leptospirosis need strong intersectoral collaboration between the public health, the livestock department and local communities. More specifically, such collaboration should integrate leptospirosis surveillance in both public and animal health for a better control of diseases in livestock while promoting public health prevention as encouraged by the One Health approach.

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