Detection of Streptococcus suis type 2 in tonsils of slaughtered pigs using improved selective and differential media.

New selective and differential media were devised for the isolation and identification of Streptococcus suis type 2. The selective medium (NNCC) agar) was Todd-Hewitt broth containing 1.5% Bactoagar and 5% defibrinated sheep blood with addition of sodium azide (50 micrograms/ml), nalidixic acid (25 micrograms/ml), colistin (12.5 micrograms/ml) and crystal violet (2 micrograms/ml). The differential medium consisted of heart infusion agar and antiserum specific only for S. suis type 2. In a total of 291 pigs tested by a combination of these media, S. suis type 2 was isolated and confirmed from 40 of them (13.7%).