The bacterial group streptococci is comprised of the genera Streptococcus, Enterococcus, and Peptostreptococcus. Streptococci are the most pathogenic and constitute a significant pathogen of swine. Streptococci are associated with infectious conditions of people, cattle, sheep, goats, and horses. Relative to pigs, S dysgalactiae and S zooepidemicus are associated with sporadic suppurative conditions. S suis is entrenched as a pathogen of young pigs and is the most important infectious disease of nursing and recently weaned pigs. Septicemia, meningitis, polyserositis, polyarthritis, and bronchopneumonia are associated with S suis infections. S porcinus is associated with suppurative conditions, specifically the condition known as jowl abscesses. Enterococci reside in the intestinal tract and cause disease in multiple species. In pigs, E durans, E faecium and E hirae are associated with enteritis and diarrhea.

Last full review/revision March 2012 by Darryl Ragland, DVM, PhD