title: Streptococcus suis in Hong Kong.
abstract: Streptococcus suis was isolated from 6.1% of raw pork meat from 3 of the 6 wet markets in 6 districts in Hong Kong. S. suis was particularly isolated in sites from the tongue, tonsil, bone, and tail, but not from lean meat/minced pork or internal organs. Isolates were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using S. suis-specific primers, did not belong to serotype 2 using serotype 2-specific antiserum, and were clustered closely with other known serotypes by phylogenetic analysis. Ten strains from patients admitted to Hong Kong hospitals with sepsis or meningitis in the past 10 years all belonged to type 2, with closely related pulsed-field gel electrophoresis types that were distinct from the S. suis strains isolated from pork in this study. These methods may serve as useful tools in studying and enhancing our understanding of these infections in Hong Kong.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong. margaretip@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ip
authors.forename: Kitty S C
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.forename: Edmund S C
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Cheuk
authors.forename: Shirley S L
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Ben W H
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Saulai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: Mamie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.forename: Raymond W M
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Paul K S
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000382:microbiology*; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012703:Serotyping; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D017011:Streptococcus suis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S