Serotyping and evaluation of the virulence in mice of Streptococcus suis strains isolated from diseased pigs

A total of 110 strains of Streptococcus suis, isolated from diseased pigs in Brazil were serotyped and analyzed for virulence. Serotyping of the strains resulted in the following classification: 42 strains of serotype 2 (38.2%), 10 strains of serotype 14 (9.1%), seven strains of serotype 9 (6.4%), three strains each of serotype 7 and 11 (2.7%), two strains each of serotype 1 and 8 (1.8%) and one strain each of serotypes ½, 3, 5, 6 and 10 (0.9%). Cross reactions among serotypes 1, 14 and 7 were observed in 21 strains (19.1%). Only 41.9% of the strains were lethal for mice using the pathogenicity test.Um total of 110 amostras de Streptococcus suis isoladas de suínos doentes, no Brasil foram sorotipificadas e analisadas para a virulência. Sorotipificação das amostras resultou na seguinte classificação: 42 amostras do sorotipo 2 (38,2%), 10 amostras do sorotipo 14 (9,1%), sete amostras do sorotipo 9 (6,4%), três amostras de cada sorotipo, 7 e 11 (2,7%), duas amostras de cada sorotipo, 1 e 8 (1,8%) e uma amostra de cada um dos sorotipos, ½, 3, 5, 6 e 10 (0,9%). Reações cruzadas entre os sorotipos 1, 14 e 7 foram observadas em 21 amostras (19,1%). Somente 41,9% das amostras foram patogênicas para camundongos

Genetic characterization of influenza virus circulating in Brazilian pigs during

Background Influenza A viruses circulating in pigs in Brazil are still not characterized, and only limited data are available about swine influenza epidemiology in the country. Therefore, we characterized the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes of influenza viruses isolated from Brazilian pigs. We also evaluated one case of probable swine-to-human transmission. Methods Twenty influenza viruses isolated from pigs during 2009-2010 in five Brazilian states (Minas Gerais, Sao Paulo, Parana, Rio Grande do Sul, and Mato Grosso) were used. One human isolate, from a technician who became ill after visiting a swineherd going through a respiratory disease outbreak, was also used in the study. Phylogenetic analysis for the HA and NA genes and hemagglutinin amino acid sequence alignment were performed. Results All isolates clustered with pandemic H1N1 2009 (pH1N1) viruses and appeared to have a common ancestor. Genetic diversity was higher in the HA than in the NA gene, and the amino acid substitution S203T in one of HA's antigenic sites was found in most of the samples. The human isolate was more related to swine isolates from the same herd visited by the technician than to other human isolates, suggesting swine-to-human transmission. Conclusion Our results show that pH1N1 was disseminated and the predominant subtype in Brazilian pigs in 2009-2010