The isolation of Streptococcus suis types 1 and 2 from pigs in New Zealand

Extract Madam:– I wish to advise of the recent isolation of Streptococcus suis 1 and 2 from pigs in New Zealand. Type 1 was isolated from brain and joint swabs from a three-week-old piglet. The piglet had meningitis, was laterally recumbent, paddling and had arthritis with grossly swollen joints. Type 2 was isolated from tonsils collected from apparently normal bacon pigs slaughtered at a meat works. Isolates were confirmed as either Streptococcus suis type 1 or 2 on the basis of biochemical characteristics(4) and Lancefield precipitin tests using Sand R antisera as originally used by De Moor.(2)