Gross and histopathological findings in unusual lesions caused by Streptococcus suis in pigs. II. Central nervous system lesions.

Subacute meningoencephalitis or meningoencephalomyelitis caused by Streptococcus suis was diagnosed in 53 pigs over a four-year period. Affected pigs averaging 11 weeks of age with a range from five days to 26 weeks, had been treated with antibiotics and had partially recovered. Hyperemia of meningeal vessels and modest increase in cerebrospinal fluid were the most common gross central nervous system lesions. Histologically, fibrin, edema and a mixture of inflammatory cells were present in meninges and choroid plexus. Linear and perivascular infiltrates of neutrophils and mononuclear inflammatory cells invaded the brain and spinal cord and similar infiltrates were in lumina of ventricles and the spinal canal. Inflammatory cells also invaded the superficial layers of the brain directly from the overlying meninges. Bilateral subacute optic perineuritis and Gasserian ganglioneuritis also occurred. Segmental cortical necrosis of cerebellar folia characterized by degeneration, necrosis, neuronophagia and drop out of groups of Purkinje cells was a distinct lesion seen in 27 of the 53 pigs. Mild spongiosis of white matter in the cerebellum and brain stem accompanied these changes.