Misidentification of S. suis as a Zoonotic Agent

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus suis is an emerging zoonotic pathogen. This bacterium commonly causes meningitis in human and is often associated with hearing and vestibular dysfunction. S. suis tends to be misidentified, leading to under-diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A previously healthy 50-year-old man was admitted to one of the district hospitals in Bali Province, Indonesia, due to meningitis. He had a history of consuming homemade raw pork product two days before the onset of illness. Streptococcus mitis was identified from the cerebrospinal fluid culture by using VITEX 2 COMPACT (Biomeriuex) with a 99% probability score. This patient had clinical symptoms and risk factor identical to S. suis infection. Therefore, we performed confirmation tests for the cerebrospinal fluid by PCR (using primer specific for gdh and recN) and sequencing of those PCR products. Both of the confirmation tests showed a positive result for S. suis. CONCLUSION: There are few reports of S. suis infections in Indonesia, but we believe that the cases in Indonesia, especially Bali, are not uncommon. The under-reported cases are perhaps due to the difficulties in differentiating S. suis from other Streptococcus species by culture method, particularly Streptococcus mitis. Therefore, confirmation by PCR is necessary

Designing programs for eliminating canine rabies from islands: Bali, Indonesia as a case study

<p>Background: Canine rabies is one of the most important and feared zoonotic diseases in the world. In some regions rabies elimination is being successfully coordinated, whereas in others rabies is endemic and continues to spread to uninfected areas. As epidemics emerge, both accepted and contentious control methods are used, as questions remain over the most effective strategy to eliminate rabies. The Indonesian island of Bali was rabies-free until 2008 when an epidemic in domestic dogs began, resulting in the deaths of over 100 people. Here we analyze data from the epidemic and compare the effectiveness of control methods at eliminating rabies.</p> <p>Methodology/Principal Findings: Using data from Bali, we estimated the basic reproductive number, R0, of rabies in dogs, to be ~1·2, almost identical to that obtained in ten–fold less dense dog populations and suggesting rabies will not be effectively controlled by reducing dog density. We then developed a model to compare options for mass dog vaccination. Comprehensive high coverage was the single most important factor for achieving elimination, with omission of even small areas (<0.5% of the dog population) jeopardizing success. Parameterizing the model with data from the 2010 and 2011 vaccination campaigns, we show that a comprehensive high coverage campaign in 2012 would likely result in elimination, saving ~550 human lives and ~$15 million in prophylaxis costs over the next ten years.</p> <p>Conclusions/Significance: The elimination of rabies from Bali will not be achieved through achievable reductions in dog density. To ensure elimination, concerted high coverage, repeated, mass dog vaccination campaigns are necessary and the cooperation of all regions of the island is critical. Momentum is building towards development of a strategy for the global elimination of canine rabies, and this study offers valuable new insights about the dynamics and control of this disease, with immediate practical relevance.</p&gt

Karakteristik Penderita Rabies Paralitik di RSUP Sanglah, Denpasar

Latar belakang: Ada dua tipe manifestasi klinis rabies pada manusia, yaitu tipe galak dan tipe paralitik. Rabies tipe galak biasanya dapat dengan mudah didiagnosis berdasarkan tanda dan gejalanya yang khas, tetapi diagnosis rabies tipe paralitik sering merupakan dilema bagi klinisi, karena gejalan yang tidak khas dan mirip dengan sindrom Guillain-Barre. Tujuan: Mengetahui karakteristik pasien rabies paralitik di RSUP Sanglah. Metode: Penelitian deskriptif observasional dengan metoda pengumpulan data sekunder dari catatan medis penderita rabies di bangsal perawatan Neurologi RSUP Sanglah dari Januari 2009 – Desember 2010. Hasil: Pada penelitian ini ditemukan 13 (19,69%) kasus rabies paralitik. Gejala prodromal berupa: kesemutan daerah gigitan (69%), demam (46%), mual dan muntah (15%), insomnia dalam 2-5 hari sebelum masuk RS (7%). Gambaran klinis tipe paralitik berupa: paraparesis flaksid simetris (62%), paraparesis flaksid asimetris (15%), monoparesis (15%), Fasikulasi (15%), inkontinensia urin (38%), retensi urin (15%), gejala gastrointestinal (distensi abdomen dan ileus paralitik) (53%). Pada stadium akhir (terminal) beberapa gejala klinis khas tipe galak juga muncul, yaitu: gangguan kesadaran berupa Fase delirium dan agitasi yang berfluktuasi pada semua penderita (100%), hidrofobia (100%), hipersalivasi (84%), hiperhidrosis (38%), aerofobia (69%), dan fotofobia (7%). Pemeriksaan LCS mendapatkan jumlah sel normal pada 5 pasien dan sel meningkat pada 7(58%) pasien dengan rata-rata jumlah sel 32/mm3. Protein LCS normal pada 4 pasien dan meningkat pada 8(66%) pasien dengan rata-rata 184 mg/dl. Simpulan: Rabies tipe paralitik dan sindrom Guillain-Barre memiliki gejala klinis yang mirip yaitu adanya paralisis flaksid akut yang sering bersifat ascendens. Pada rabies tipe paralitik sering didapatkan beberapa gambaran klinis lain berupa demam, kesemutan di daerah luka gigitan, Fasikulasi, inkontinensia urin, progresivitas gejala sangat cepat dan Perubahan status kesadaran.Background: Human rabies can present in two clinical forms, furious and paralytic. Diagnosis of furious (encephalitic) form can be made based on typical symptoms and signs. In contrast, paralytic form poses a diagnostic dilemma to distinguish it from Guillain-Barre syndrome. Objective: To describe characteristics of paralytic rabies patients at Sanglah Hospital. Method: This is an observational descriptive study. All data was collected from secondary data from medical records of rabies patients in Neurology ward, Sanglah Hospital from January 2009 – December 2010. Result: There were a total of 13 (19,69%) cases of paralytic rabies. Prodromal symptoms consisted of: paresthesias at the site of healed bite wound (69%), fever (46%), nausea and vomiting (15%), insomnia in about 2-5 days prior to admissions (7%). The clinical features of the paralytic form were: symmetrical flaccid paraparesis (62%), asymmetrical flaccid paraparesis (15%), monoparesis (15%), Fasciculation (15%), urinary incontinence (38%), urinary retention (15%), gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal distention and paralytic ileus) (53%). Particularly all patients showed features of furious rabies in terminal stage: fluctuating consciousness between lucid calm and agitation (100%), hypersalivation (84%), hyperhydrosis (38%), hydrophobia (100%), aerophobia (69%), photophobia (7%). CSF cell counts were normal in 5 patients and increased in 7 (58%) patients with mean cell count of 32 cells/mm3. CSF protein was normal in 4 patients and increased in 8 (66%) patients with mean protein 184 mg/dl. Conclusion: Despite similarities between paralytic rabies and Guillain-Barre syndrome, some clinical features i.e., fever, distal paresthesia, Fasciculation, urinary incontinence, rapid progression of symptoms and alteration in sensorium may help clinicians to differentiate rabies from Guillain-Barre syndrome. All paralytic rabies cases showed features of furious rabies in terminal stage

Gejala Otonom Tidak Spesifik pada Penderita Rabies di RSUP Sanglah, Denpasar

Latar belakang: Manifestasi klinis rabies sangat bervariasi. Gejala otonom tidak spesifik ditemukan pada 2/3 kasus terutama pada stadium prodromal menyebabkan misdiagnosis yang memperlambat penanganan rabies. Tujuan: Mengetahui manifestasi gejala sistem saraf otonom tidak spesifik pada penderita rabies di RSUP Sanglah. Metodologi: Penelitian retrospektif dari bulan Januari 2009 – Desember 2010 di RSUP Sanglah Denpasar. Data diperoleh dari catatan medis penderita rabies. Hasil: Ditemukan 13 kasus rabies dengan manifestasi gejala otonom tidak spesifik, terdiri dari 8 kasus tipe galak (61,5%) dan 5 kasus tipe paralitik (38,5%). Pada stadium prodromal gejalanya adalah mual-muntah (38,5%), gangguan miksi (30,8 %), Perut kembung (30,8%), nyeri uluhati/Perut (15,4%), nyeri dada (15,4%), sesak nafas (53,8) dan diare (7,7%). Gejala sistem otonom pada stadium neurologi akut berupa gangguan miksi (inkontinensia dan retensio urine) (38,5%) dan distensi abdomen (30,8%). Pasien dirawat oleh bagian Ilmu Penyakit Dalam (69,2%), Ilmu Penyakit Anak (15,4%), Ilmu Penyakit Jantung (15,4%) antara 24 jam sampai 48 jam sebelum dikonsulkan ke bagian Ilmu Penyakit Saraf. Simpulan: Manifestasi gejala sistem otonom tidak spesifik sangat bervariasi, dapat ditemukan pada stadium prodromal dan neurologis akut.Background: Clinical manifestations of rabies may be preceded by nonspecific prodromal symptoms in 2/3 cases. This often leads to misdiagnosis resulting in delays in the management of rabies. Objective: To determine the non-specific autonomic nervous system symptoms in rabies patients in Sanglah Hospital. Method: This is descriptive retrospective study from January 2009 - December 2010 in Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar. Data obtained from medical records of rabies patients. Results: During the period, there were 13 cases of rabies with non-specific autonomic nervous system symptoms, 8 cases were furious type (61.5%) and 5 cases paralytic rabies (38.5%). Symptoms at prodromal stage are nausea/vomiting (38.5%), urinary symptoms (30.8%), abdominal distention (30.8%), abdominal/epigastric pain (15.4%), chest pain (15.4 %), shortness of breath (53.8%) and diarrhea (7.7%). The autonomic symptoms at acute neurologic stage were urinary disorders (urinary incontinence and retention) (38.5%) and abdominal distension (30.8%). All patients were treated by other departments between 24 to 48 hours prior to neurological consultation. Those departments were Internal Medicine (69.2%), Pediatrics (15.4%), Cardiology (15.4%). Summary: non-specific autonomic nervous system symptoms of rabies are diverse and complicate the diagnosis. It can occur in a prodromal and acute neurological stage