IDENTIFICATION OF Streptococcus suis BACTERIA ON LAWAR PLEK SOLD IN GIANYAR REGENCY IN 2025

Abstract

Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen found in pigs. These bacteria can causes of meningitis and can lead to various other diseases in humans. In 2023, Gianyar Regency recorded the highest number of suspected Meningitis Streptococcus suis cases in Bali. The habit of the Balinese in consuming traditional foods made of raw pork meat and blood is suspected to be the cause of the increase in Streptococcus suis infection. One of the Balinese traditional foods made of raw pork meat and blood is lawar plek. This study aimed to identify Streptococcus suis contamination in lawar plek sold in Gianyar Regency. The study used a cross-sectional design with purposive sampling as the method for determining the number of samples. A total of 28 lawar plek samples were collected from four sellers in each sub-district of Gianyar Regency. Bacterial identification was performed through isolation on blood agar plate, gram staining, catalase testing, and Polymerase Chain Reaction testing. Data analysis was conducted descriptively to determine the number of samples contaminated with Streptococcus suis. Isolation on blood agar plate showed colonies that were grayish white, coccus with flat edges and a convex surface, and measuring 1–4 mm in size. Microscopic observation showed coccus gram-positive bacteria in 22 samples (78.6%) and gram-positive bacilli in 6 samples (21.4%). The catalase test showed positive results in 18 samples (81.8%) and negative results in 4 samples (18.2%). Polymerase Chain Reaction testing of four samples showed negative results. Based on the identification results, it can be concluded that no Streptococcus suis contamination was found in lawar plek samples collected from sellers in Gianyar Regency.