Streptococcus zooepidemicus in Small Carnivorous Mammals Fed Uncooked Horsemeat

Abstract

Streptococcus zooepidemicus of Lancefield's Group C has been reported to be a pathogen in a wide variety of species including chickens '6, eared grebes ' ', guinea pigs '8, rats1, dogs8 21, a dingo12, goat8, pigs, horses23414, cattle5, sheep10 20 and man6 ,q. In the horse and dog, S. zooepidemicus may exist as a commensal organism of the skin, upper respiratory tract mucosa, tonsillar and cervical lymph nodes and cause disease after the mucosal barrier has been damaged by a primary pathogen or metabolic stress6 2123. Bryans and Moore2 report isolation of S. zooepidemicus from the reproductive tracts of clinically normal mares, and in streptococcal metritis and cervicitis secondary to trauma to the mucosal barrier during parturition or abnormal vulvar conformation. S. zooepidemicus may be a primary pathogen in other species such as chickens, grebes, guinea pigs and man. Clinical syndromes vary from peracute to chronic infections which may be systemic or localized. Organ systems affected vary widely, but pneumonia and septicemia are commonly reported clinical signs in sheep20, foals34, dogs7 21, chickens16, grebes11, rats1, and man196. Torticollis18, meningoencephalitis8, mastitis, metritis139, and peracute septicemia4;1112 have also been reported. The route of infection has not been described in many reported cases; however, inhalation1 2(), wound contamination2 3Q, entry via the naval3 4, and ingestion of affected milk6 have all been described. This paper will describe six cases of fatal streptococcosis associated with feeding uncooked horsemeat to carnivorous small mammals at the National Zoological Park.