Streptococcus suis (strep suis), which originates from a common Streptococcus bacteria, can affect piglets to about eight to 10 weeks old. Although infections later are more rare, it can sometimes cause an overwhelming infection that can kill the pig.

In the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network's review for the first quarter of 2013, strep suis and other strep infections were identified as one of the main reasons veterinarians were called to farms.

Dr Chris Byra, the manager of the Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network's management team reports very little changed during the second quarter.

Dr Chris Byra - Canadian Swine Health Intelligence Network

We saw similar results as we have in the past. It's a common problem on farms, common or even very common and a couple of veterinarians indicated in their opinions that they had seen a slight increase.

It's pretty much what we expect in the summer time. It's really not a surprise. It continues to be a disease that we have to work with and does affect pig production. It causes some mortality in pigs in the nursery.

It can cause meningitis and other conditions such as arthritis and so it slows down the growth of pigs as well so, as a result, the disease is an economic one.

Although it can be found on most farms, in only a few is it really a large economic problem.

Dr Byra says the data network records ever time a veterinarian sees or suspects strep suis and CSHIN will continue to monitor but, if the infection continues at the levels we are seeing today, probably not very much will change.

He notes there is some research into ways to better manage this disease but at this point, it is not the main concern of Canadian veterinarians or pig producers.