Prevalence of the suilysin gene in Streptococcus suis strains isolated from diseased and healthy carrier pigs.
Knowledge of virulence factors of Streptococcus suis is limited. Several virulence factor candidates have been proposed, among them suilysin, which is responsible for a toxic effect on epithelial cells. The aim of this study was to detect the suilysin gene sequence in Streptococcus suis strains of various origin. In total 63 Streptococcus suis isolates were investigated. Forty four of them originated from tissues of streptococcosis affected animals. The remaining 19 strains were isolated from tonsils of healthy carrier pigs. Suilysin gene specific sequence was detected in 79% of the strains tested. In isolates obtained from pigs with signs of streptococcosis this gene sequence was recorded in 85% of cases. In Streptococcus suis strains isolated from healthy carrier pigs the suilysin gene was detected in 63% of the isolates. It seems that suilysin toxic activity is only one of the many steps involved in the pathogenesis of Streptococcus suis infection and that strain's virulence cannot be stated only on the basis of suilysin gene sequence presence.
Department of Preclinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warsaw Agricultural University (SGGW), Ciszewskiego 8, 02-786 Warsaw, Poland. michalfabisiak@wp.pl
M
M
Fabisiak
J
J
Kita
R
R
Jedryczko
M
M
Binek
D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State; D017931:DNA Primers; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D012703:Serotyping / Q000662:veterinary; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*
D017931:DNA Primers; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C104760:suilysin