[Study on molecular epidemiology of major pathogenic Streptococcus suis serotypes in middle part of Jiangsu province].

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of Streptococcus suis and major pathogenic serotypes in middle part of Jiangsu province. METHODS: Tonsillar specimens from 303 slaughtered pigs aged 6 to 8 months were investigated for the presence of Streptococcus suis and major pathogenic serotypes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Bacteriological examination compared with molecular genetics identification for three Streptococcus suis isolates were also done. RESULTS: The overall carrier rate of Streptococcus suis was up to 88.0%, with the percentages of serotype 1(14), 2(1/2), 7 and 9 were 9.6%, 8.5%, 11.3% and 29.5% respectively in 2005. While in 2006, the prevalence of Streptococcus suis was 82.5%, with capsular types 1 (14), 2 (1/2), 7 and 9 were accounted for 17.6%, 2.4%, 25.8% and 20.0% of all the specimens. All the three isolates belonged to Streptococcus suis serotype 2,named 2a, 2f and 14e, which exhibiting the virulent phenotype cps2+/gdh+/mrp-/lepf-/sly-/fbps+/orf2+/89k-, cps2+/lgdh+/mrp-/epf-/sly-/fbps-/orf2-/89k- and cps2+/gdh+/mrp-/epf-/sly-/fbps/orf2-/ respectively. These isolates were all susceptible to amoxicillin, ampicillin, penicillin and resistant to amikacin and tetraycline. Clinical signs were not noted in BALB/c mice and rabbit. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of the Streptococcus suis among the healthy herds in the areas was very high, with various capsule types of Streptococcus suis involved in the same herds, and the virulent phenotype of these 3 isolates were very different from those prevalent Streptococcus suis serotype 2 virulent isolates frequently discovered from the epidemic areas.

[Homologous analysis of Streptococcus suis srt gene and prokaryotic expression of srtA].

AIM: To elucidate the distribution of srt gene in the genome of S.suis 05ZYH33, prokaryotically express Sortase A and analyze its antigenicity. METHODS: Homologous genes encoding sortase family members were analyzed, and then the srtA gene of S.suis was cloned and sequenced. The recombinant protein was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Western blot. The mice were immunized with recombinant protein and the antibody titer was determined by indirect ELISA. RESULTS: All the putative srt genes in the genome of 05ZYH33 were analyzed. Six genes were found to be homologous to srt of S.suis isolated in Japan. The predicted srtA and sortase-like proteins were members of Class A of sortase family while srtBCD and srtE belonged to Class B. Western blot analysis showed that the recombinant protein was reactive to with the serum from the rabbits infected with a virulent strain of S.suis Type 2. The antibody titer in blood serum reached 1:6 400 after immunization with recombinant protein four times. CONCLUSION: Compared with the isolated strain from Japan a new putative srt gene was found in 05ZYH33. The srtA gene was successfully expressed in prokaryotic system and the recombinant protein showed specific antigenicity, which is important for future research of the function of Sortase.