Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is one of the most important pathogens that impacts swine production in Ontario and worldwide. Sargeant’s research team investigated strains of S. suis and explored the interaction of bacterial strains on the health of host, generating important insights to guide future disease prevention and monitoring.
Livestock diseases present significant threats to both animal welfare and the agricultural industry. When left unmanaged, these diseases can result in substantial economic losses due to lost animals. One such disease is Streptococcus suis (S. suis), a bacterial infection that is both economically important and endemic to Canadian swine populations. S. suis is a common pathogen that can cause high morbidity and mortality in pigs, leading to compromised animal welfare and financial setbacks for producers. Traditionally, the disease has been treated with antibiotics, which is raising concerns about the potential development of antibiotic resistance. In addition, certain strains of S. suis are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted to humans, posing further health risks. Given the widespread prevalence of S. suis in swine operations across Ontario and the range of associated risks, there is a critical need for better understanding of this pathogen. This knowledge is essential for improving disease management strategies and supporting both animal health and the broader livestock industry.
Dr. Jan Sargeant and her research team addressed this issue in a two-part project funded by Food from Thought, focusing on diseases that limit livestock production. In one part, the team developed a pathogen framework for better understanding S. suis. S. suis was chosen as the focus of the study in collaboration with the University of Guelph swine research group, who identified S. suis as a prevalent challenge among local swine producers. In the second part, Sergeant’s team created a database of comprehensive livestock disease information to further future research on the subject. Bioinformatics plays key role in understanding and managing pathogens, including S. suis, by analysing genetic data. As quantities of health data increase with the rise in genetic sequencing, consolidating data into comprehensive and accessible formats can aide future researchers, eliminating the need to continually collect new samples.
Sargeant’s research provided valuable insights into developing targeted treatments, preventive measures, and understanding the epidemiology of S. suis infections in swine populations. In one study, the team examined the variations (serotypes) of S. suis bacteria in both sick and healthy pigs. They established a framework to identify which serotypes were most commonly found in specific locations on the host, as compared to those that were consistently present in the respiratory tracts of both sick and healthy pigs. This research highlighted the diversity of S. suis serotypes present among Ontario swine production operations and generated several findings that warrant further investigation to explore potential links between the presence of specific strains and the onset of illness in pigs. Another study by the research team explored variations in host recruitment – the process by which new susceptible pigs are introduced into a population of healthy pigs. The research team identified alternations to the host recruitment process, such as rate and timing, that can influence the spread of S. suis in a given population, pointing to refinements in host recruitment practices as a potential method for disease control.
This important work on S. suis in swine production can significantly improve practices for mitigating and managing disease outbreaks in swine populations. With better information to guide practices, farmers will have greater control over pathogens in their herds, leading to reduced economic losses and improved animal welfare. Sargeant’s research on antimicrobial resistance, strain identification, and host recruitment methods advances our understanding of how diseases manifest among host populations and creates avenues for better monitoring of emerging pathogens. The creation of the data library to inventory existing data resources further enhances this effort, providing a valuable resource for researchers to access and utilize data without the need for additional primary data collection. By integrating bioinformatic strategies, Sargeant’s work contributes to the larger effort among researchers to better understand and manage important pathogens, including S. suis, leading to more effective disease control and prevention strategies in the swine industry.
Arndt, E. R., Farzan, A., MacInnes, J. I., & Friendship, R. M. (n.d.). Antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus suis isolates recovered from clinically ill nursery pigs and from healthy pigs at different stages of production.
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Giang, E., Hetman, B. M., Sargeant, J. M., Poljak, Z., & Greer, A. L. (2020). Examining the Effect of Host Recruitment Rates on the Transmission of Streptococcus suis in Nursery Swine Populations. Pathogens, 9(3), 174. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9030174
Ouyang, Z., Sargeant, J., Thomas, A., Wycherley, K., Ma, R., Esmaeilbeigi, R., Versluis, A., Stacey, D., Stone, E., Poljak, Z., & Bernardo, T. M. (2019). A scoping review of ‘big data’, ‘informatics’, and ‘bioinformatics’ in the animal health and veterinary medical literature. Animal Health Research Reviews, 20(1), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1466252319000136
Wong, J. (n.d.). Investigating single-nucleotide variants in swine associated with common infectious pathogens and diseases, with a focus on Streptococcus suis infection, using a genome-wide association study approach.
Dr. Davor Ojkic, Dr. Robert Friendship, Dr. Nicole Ricker, Dr. Vahab Farzan, Dr. Zvonimir Poljak, Dr. Amy Greer, Dr. Emily Arndt, Dr. Theresa Bernardo, Dr. Marcelo Gottschalk, Dr. Nahuel Fittipaldi, Dr. Khurram Nadeem, Dr. Brandon Lillie, Dr. Jutta Hammermueller, Dr. Stephen LeBlanc, Dr. David Kelton, Dr. Dan Tulpan, Dr. Emma Morrison, Dr. Caroline Ritter
Elissa Giang, Leann Denich, Maverick Aradanas, Sarah Hill, Kaushalya Kuruppu Arachchillage, Zenhwa Ouyang, Jeremy Wong, Claudia Cobo, Dr. Russell Fraser, Dr. Rafiq Ahad
Public Health Ontario, Ontario Pork, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, University of PEI
