First documented case of Streptococcus uberis infection in a whooper swan

Abstract

Streptococcus uberis, a Gram-positive bacterium commonly found in dairy cows, causes mastitis and decreases milk production quality. While usually non-pathogenic in humans, rare cases of infections such as endocarditis and abscesses have been reported. This paper presents the first documented case of Streptococcus uberis infection in a whooper swan, leading to systemic illness. The swan exhibited hepatic necrosis, spleen congestion, and heart abnormalities, with bacterial presence confirmed through microbiological methods. The source of infection remains to be elucidated but is possibly linked to exposure to wild animals or environmental factors in the zoo habitat.