S. suis serotype 2 meningitis in a patient with horse contact in a Japanese stable: A case report

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Vol. 112; no. 4; p. 116868
• Main Authors: Oshida, Jura, Ito, Hiroshi, Ubukata, Kimiko, Takata, Misako, Ohkusu, Kiyofumi, Ohba, Shunsuke, Saida, Akihiko, Nakamura, Shigeki, Kobayashi, Daiki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.08.2025
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Brain Abscess - microbiology; Horse; Horses - microbiology; Humans; Japan; Male; Meningitis; Meningitis, Bacterial - diagnosis; Meningitis, Bacterial - drug therapy; Meningitis, Bacterial - microbiology; Meningitis, Bacterial - transmission; Middle Aged; Serogroup; Streptococcal Infections - diagnosis; Streptococcal Infections - drug therapy; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcus suis; Streptococcus suis - classification; Streptococcus suis - isolation & purification; Japan; CRP; CT; MR; Streptococcus suis; Horse; CSF; Meningitis
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2025.116868

Streptococcus suis is a Gram-positive zoonotic pathogen primarily associated with pigs, but its potential transmission from other animals remains unclear. We report a case of S. suis serotype 2 meningitis in a 56-year-old Filipino stable worker with no known contact with pigs but a history of direct exposure to horses. He presented with fever and persistent headache following a head injury sustained one month prior. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis revealed bacterial meningitis, and blood and CSF cultures identified S. suis serotype 2. Despite appropriate antibiotic therapy, the patient developed a brain abscess requiring craniotomy and experienced prolonged disorientation. This is the first reported case of S. suis meningitis suspected to have originated from a horse, highlighting the need for further epidemiological studies on non-porcine sources of S. suis infection.