Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus: an emergent cause of meningoencephalitis in Northeastern Brazil.
Luís Arthur Brasil Gadelha FariasMarcos Maciel SousaKarene Ferreira CavalcanteMarina Pinheiro Catunda JucáAldenise de Olinda CastroLiana Perdigão MelloRafael Ferreira MesquitaSilviane Praciano BandeiraAna Paula MarchiTânia Mara Silva CoelhoAntônio Silva Lima NetoÉrico Antonio Gomes de ArrudaSílvia Figueiredo CostaMaura Salaroli de OliveiraLauro Vieira Perdigão NetoPublished in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo (2024)
This study describes an outbreak of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus infections that caused meningoencephalitis and bacteremia related to unpasteurized milk consumption in northeastern Brazil. Epidemiological investigations and a brief literature review were conducted. Strains with possible neurotropism had not been identified in Brazil before these cases; however, in 2023, another case of meningoencephalitis caused by Streptococcus equi sp. zooepidemicus was described, revealing the need to maintain surveillance and highlighting that these neurotropic strains continue to circulate in the environment.