Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus – a case report of sudden death in a German sow farm

Abstract

A farm in North-West Germany experienced a high morbidity and mortality in their sow herd. Sows showed fever, lethargy, oedema, mucosal discharge and dyspnoea. Necropsy revealed a severe fibrinous and purulent polyserositis. Haematological and histological examinations confirmed septicaemia. Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus was isolated in high yields from major organs. Sequence typing of this isolate (21/455) revealed a new sequence type showing a significantly higher proliferation rate in comparison to two other isolates. Other infectious agents (influenza A virus, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus, Porcine Circovirus 2, african swine fever virus, classical swine fever virus, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae) were excluded by routine diagnostic examinations. A climate check revealed an insufficient air supply in the area for the gestating sows. This case describes the first disease outbreak in swine due to S. zooepidemicus in Germany.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Phenotypic Analysis of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Sequence Type 147 Isolated from China

“…Virulent strains of S. zooepidemicus were linked to disease outbreaks that killed over 300,000 pigs in China in 1970. The first disease outbreak in swine due to S. zooepidemicus in Germany was reported in 2023 [6]. In the past few years, several cases of SEZ hemorrhagic pneumonia characterized by a high mortality have been reported in dogs [7].…”

“…Moreover, there have been many cases of SEZ meningitis, septicemia, and arthritis in humans who have frequently been in close contact with infected animals or animal products [8][9][10][11]. SEZ-induced purulent pericarditis was also reported in a human who was determined at 2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18,20, and 24 h. At least three separate experiments were carried out, each with three technical replicates.…”