Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis from Diseased Pigs Are Genetically Distinct from Human Strains and Associated with Multidrug Resistance

TL;DR

Pig strains of Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis are genetically distinct from human strains and show high multidrug resistance.

Contribution

This study reveals that porcine SDSE forms distinct genetic clades and exhibits significant antimicrobial resistance.

Findings

Porcine SDSE isolates form two distinct genetic clades separate from human strains.

Porcine SDSE shows high resistance to tetracycline, macrolides, and lincosamides.

Genomic analysis identified mobile elements carrying antimicrobial resistance genes.

Abstract

Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis (SDSE) has historically been recognized as a human pathogen, yet β-hemolytic streptococci consistent with SDSE have been documented in pigs for nearly a century. To investigate the population structure of porcine SDSE and the phylogenetic relationships between swine and human strains, we characterized 41 isolates recovered from diseased pigs in Quebec, Canada (2019–2022). Infected animals spanned all major production stages and frequently presented with invasive disease, including arthritis, endocarditis, and sudden death. Core-genome phylogenetics resolved two heterogeneous porcine clades separated by long internal branches and clearly distinct from dominant human SDSE lineages. Most porcine isolates were emm-negative or contained structurally altered emm regions compared with human strains. Analysis of Lancefield antigen loci identified a predominant group C lineage and a minority group L lineage, recapitulating historical serogroup distributions described since the early-20th century. Phenotypic testing showed susceptibility to β-lactams and florfenicol but high levels of resistance to tetracycline, macrolides and lincosamides. Detected antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes correlated well with phenotypes, and multidrug resistance was frequent. Hybrid genome assemblies revealed integrative and mobilizable elements carrying AMR determinants. Collectively, our data indicate that porcine SDSE represents a long-standing, genetically structured, host-adapted population with notable AMR potential, underscoring the need for continued swine SDSE genomic surveillance.

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