Table 1 Clinical scoring systems used in experimental S. suis pig infections (published between 2000 - 2021)

path.

4–5

2

i.n.

not defined

score > 2 on attitude or locomotion

body temperature

 < 40.4°C

0

[43]

40.5–40.9°C

1

41–41.4°C

2

41.5–41.9°C

3

 > 42°C

4

attitude

normal attitude and response to stimuli

0

inactive and slow to respond with oculonasal secretions

1

only responsive to repeated stimuli

2

recumbent, nonresponsive, and unaware of surroundings

3

dead

4

locomotion

normal gait and posture

0

slight incoordination, lameness, and/or joint swelling but rises without assistance

1

clearly uncoordinated or lame but stands without assistance

2

severe lameness and/or severe ataxia

3

dead

4

4–5

2

i.n.

daily

see Li et al. 2007 [101]

[102]

2–3

2

i.n.

daily

meningitis; recumbency due to lameness

respiratory disease see Halbur et al. 1995 [103]

normal-severe

0–6

[37]^c

CNS/swollen joints, lameness

normal

0

mild

1

moderate

2

severe

3

vac.

6

2

i.n.

twice daily

severe CNS disease or lameness with recumbency

respiratory disease see Halbur et al. 1995  [103]

absence

0

[56]

severe

6

lameness/CNS

absence

0

severe

3

vac.

7

2

i.p.

3/day

score = 3 in either category and body temperature > 40°C for 2 consecutive days

behavior

normal attitude and response to stimuli

0

[75]

slight depression with marginally delay in the response to the stimuli, but preserved appetite

1

moderate depression, animal only responds to repeated stimuli, reluctant to move, decreased appetite

2

severe depression, non-responsive, recumbent, incoordination, diminished appetite

3

locomotion

normal gait and posture

0

one joint affected, light lameness, but rises and moves without assistance

1

moderate lameness, 2–3 joints affected with the swelling but stands without assistance

2

severe lameness, ataxia 3–4 joints affected, recumbent and cannot stand or move

3

CNS

normal physiological behavior and response to stimuli

0

slight incoordination, strabismus

1

moderate incoordination, trembling

2

severe, lateral or dorsal head inclination, ataxia, opisthotonos, nystagmus, convulsions

3

8

2

i.v.

not defined

severe clinical signs (score > 4)

feed attitude

normal

0

[7]

reduced

1

anorexia

2

behavior

normal

0

slightly depressed

1

depressed

2

moribund, does not stand up

3

dead

4

lameness

normal

0

lameness grade 1, pig avoids movement on the leg

1

lameness grade 2, pig does not stand on the leg

2

central

nervous

signs

normal

0

mild, signs as incoordination are only visible after manipulation of the pig

1

moderate, signs as incoordination, head tremor in rest

2

Severe, signs as nystagmus, opisthotonos, ataxia

3

vac.

8–9

9

i.v.

8h

body temperature ≥ 40.5°C and apathy and anorexia over 32 h [51] /24 h [24]; polyarthritis; CNS dysfunction; score ≥ 25

body temperature

< 40°C

0

[24, 51]

8

14

i.n.

8h

40.0 – 40.2°C

1

40.3 – 40.5°C

2

> 40.5°C

3

feed intake

good

0

moderate

1^a

ceased

3^b

lameness

no

0

low-grade

1

high-grade

3

recumbency, polyarthritis

25

behavior

fresh

0

faint

1

listless

10

central nervous disorders

25

respiratory signs

costo-abdominal

0

forced abdominal breathing

1

cyanosis (ears)

8

8

2

aerosol

not defined

see Okura et al. 2021 [43] except that only attitude and locomotion is scored

[101]

11–12

2

i.p.

daily

animals unresponsive to stimuli; CNS; lameness score of 3

behavior

physiological

0

[26]

depression

1

apathy

2

locomotion

physiological

0

slightly to moderately lame

1

severely lame/reluctant to stand

2

animal partially/completely down, i.e., animals can rise but lies down again within 10 s

3

CNS

absent

0

present

1

2–3

2

i.n.

daily

CNS disease; joint swelling, lameness with recumbency

see Thanawongnuwech et al.2000 [37]

[36]^c