Abstract
Background Streptococcus suis can cause severe systemic infection in adults exposed to infected pigs or after consumption of undercooked pig products. S. suis is often misdiagnosed, due to lack of awareness and improper testing. Here we report the first fifty cases diagnosed with S. suis infection in northern Viet Nam.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn 2007, diagnostics for S. suis were set up at a national hospital in Hanoi. That year there were 43 S. suis positive cerebrospinal fluid samples, of which S. suis could be cultured in 32 cases and 11 cases were only positive by PCR. Seven patients were blood culture positive for S. suis but CSF culture and PCR negative; making a total of 50 patients with laboratory confirmed S. suis infection in 2007. The number of S. suis cases peaked during the warmer months.Conclusions/Significance S. suis was commonly diagnosed as a cause of bacterial meningitis in adults in northern Viet Nam. In countries where there is intense and widespread exposure of humans to pigs, S. suis can be an important human pathogen.
Highlights
Streptococcus suis infection is a zoonosis which can cause severe systemic infection in humans exposed to infected pig tissue [1]
One study estimated the annual risk of developing S. suis infection in abattoir workers and pig farmers in a developed country to be approximately 3/100.000 per year [5]
Whilst a recent study in southern Viet Nam showed that S. suis was the most common cause of bacterial meningitis in adults, S. suis has never been reported in northern Viet Nam [2]
Summary
Streptococcus suis infection is a zoonosis which can cause severe systemic infection in humans exposed to infected pig tissue [1]. In developed countries most cases are described in people with occupational exposure to pigs, such as pig farmers and abattoir workers. One study estimated the annual risk of developing S. suis infection in abattoir workers and pig farmers in a developed country to be approximately 3/100.000 per year [5]. In developing countries with intense pig farming, like those in Southeast Asia, the risk of acquiring S. suis infection is unknown as it is not a notifiable disease and under diagnosis is common. Streptococcus suis can cause severe systemic infection in adults exposed to infected pigs or after consumption of undercooked pig products. We report the first fifty cases diagnosed with S. suis infection in northern Viet Nam
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