Disease intervention targets for porcine Streptococcus suis infections in Vietnam

Streptococcus suis causes high morbidity and mortality in the commercial and small-scale farming swine industry, with negative effects on economic sustainability, animal welfare, and food security. Despite S. suis being one of the most prevalent causes of bacterial infection and death in post-weaned piglets, there is currently no commercial vaccine available. Furthermore, S. suis can be transmitted from pigs to humans and it is the leading cause of human meningitis in Vietnam.

Challenge

One of the major barriers to vaccine commercialization is the inability of experimental vaccines to protect against more than one serotype. Consequently, infection control in pigs relies heavily on the use of antibiotics, with antimicrobial resistance increasing in prevalence.

Expected results

The key outcome from this project will be the development of a prototype vaccine to protect piglets against Streptococcus suis. The development of an efficacious vaccine will offset the economic impact of this disease, reduce the need for antimicrobials (thus reducing the risk of antimicrobial resistance), and lower the risk of zoonotic transmission of the infection during food production.

Lead institutions

This project is a collaboration between the University of Nottingham in England and the National Institute for Veterinary Research (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) in Vietnam.

• Duration: 33 months
• Budget: CA$1,384,800