Abstract
The purpose of this study was to perform an analysis of Streptococcus suis human invasive isolates, collected in Poland by the National Reference Centre for Bacterial Meningitis. Isolates obtained from 21 patients during 2000–2013 were investigated by phenotypic tests, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), analysis of the TR9 locus from the multilocus variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) scheme and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of SmaI-digested DNA. Determinants of virulence and antimicrobial resistance were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and analysed by sequencing. All isolates represented sequence type 1 (ST1) and were suggested to be serotype 2. PFGE and analysis of the TR9 locus allowed the discrimination of four and 17 types, respectively. Most of the isolates were haemolysis- and DNase-positive, and around half of them formed biofilm. Genes encoding suilysin, extracellular protein factor, fibronectin-binding protein, muramidase-released protein, surface antigen one, enolase, serum opacity factor and pili were ubiquitous in the studied group, while none of the isolates carried sequences characteristic for the 89K pathogenicity island. All isolates were susceptible to penicillin, cefotaxime, imipenem, moxifloxacin, chloramphenicol, rifampicin, gentamicin, linezolid, vancomycin and daptomycin. Five isolates (24 %) were concomitantly non-susceptible to erythromycin, clindamycin and tetracycline, and harboured the tet(O) and erm(B) genes; for one isolate, lsa(E) and lnu(B) were additionally detected. Streptococcus suis isolated in Poland from human invasive infections belongs to a globally distributed clonal complex of this pathogen, enriched in virulence markers. This is the first report of the lsa(E) and lnu(B) resistance genes in S. suis.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s10096-016-2616-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Streptococcus suis represents one of most important pathogens of pigs, responsible for septicaemia, meningitis, arthritis and pneumonia in newborn and young animals of this species [1]
Because no human infection due to serotype 1/2 strains has yet been reported in any country [41], the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results strongly suggest that all the isolates are serotype 2
Most of the patients affected by S. suis infection were male and middle-aged; the patient’s profession is not routinely reported to the National Reference Centre for Bacterial Meningitis (NRCBM), but for two patients, infection was very likely caused by occupational exposure
Summary
Streptococcus suis represents one of most important pathogens of pigs, responsible for septicaemia, meningitis, arthritis and pneumonia in newborn and young animals of this species [1]. These bacteria are a cause of invasive diseases in humans, mainly meningitis, as well as septicaemia, endocarditis and arthritis [2]. Such infections are typically sporadic, and, in the majority of cases, occur in particular occupational groups, such as abattoir workers and butchers. Sporadically isolated from humans, include 1, 4, 5, 14, 16, 21 and 24
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
