Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-lnqnp Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T16:07:45.291Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Porcine enteric spirochete infections in the UK: surveillance data and preliminary investigation of atypical isolates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

J.R. Thomson*
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Science Division Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, UK
W.J. Smith
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Science Division, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, UK
B.P. Murray
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Science Division Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, UK
D. Murray
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Science Division Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, UK
J.E. Dic
Affiliation:
Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Science Division Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, UK
K.J. Sumption
Affiliation:
Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Veterinary Field Station, Easter Bush, Roslin, UK
*
*Scottish Agricultural College, Veterinary Science Division Edinburgh, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QE, UK. E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Investigations into the possible causes of colitis and typhlocolitis were carried out on 98 pig units in the United Kingdom between 1997 and 1999. Brachyspira pilosicoliwas identified most commonly, occurring as the suggested primary agent in 18% of the outbreaks but forming part of mixed infections in another 24% of outbreaks. The equivalent figures for other bacterial pathogens were: B. hyodysenteriae, 13% and 16%; Lawsonia intracellularis, 10% and 15%; Salmonella species, 6% and 12%; and Yersinia species, 4% and 10%. Unclassified Brachyspira species of unknown pathogenicity were identified in 12% of outbreaks. The 24 unclassified isolates divided into three groups on the basis of their phenotypic characteristics. In addition, there were 50 atypical Brachyspira species isolates that showed differences between their phenotypic characteristics and genetic identity based on sequence analysis of a section of the 23S rDNA gene. Four representative atypical isolates were found to be pathogenic as a result of an experimental oral challenge study in pigs.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © CAB International 2001

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Binek, M and Szynkiewicz, Z (1984). Physiological properties and classification of strains of Treponema sp. isolated from pigs in Poland. Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 7:141148.Google ScholarPubMed
Duhamel, GE, Muniappa, N, Gardner, I, Anderson, MA, Blanchard, PC, Delsey, BM, Mathiesen, MR and Walker, RL. (1995) Porcine colonic spirochaetosis: a newly recognised species of intestinal spirochaetes. Pig Journal 35: 101110.Google Scholar
Fellström, C and Gunnarsson, A (1995). Phenotypical characteri-sation of intestinal spirochaetes isolated from pigs. Research in Veterinary Science 59: 14.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fellström, C, Karlsson, M, Pettersson, B, Zimmerman, U, Gunnarsson, A and Aspan, A (1999). Emended descriptions of indole negative and indole positive isolates of Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae. Veterinary Microbiology 70: 225238.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hampson, DJ, Atyeo, RF and Combs, BG (1997). Swine dysentery. In: Hampson, DJ and Stanton, TB (eds), Intestinal Spirochaetes in Domestic Animals and Humans. Wallingford, UK: CAB International, pp.175209.Google Scholar
Harris, DL, Glock, RD, Christensen, CR and Kinyon, JM (1972). Swine dysentery. I. Inoculation of pigs with Treponema hyodysenteriae (new species) and reproduction of the disease. Veterinary Medicine and Small Animal Clinician 67: 6164.Google Scholar
Hommez, J, Castryck, F, Haesebrouck, F and Devriese, LA (1998). Identification of porcine Serpulina strains in routine diagnostic bacteriology. Veterinary Microbiology 62: 163169.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jensen, NS (1997). Detection, identification and sub-specific differentiation of intestinal spirochaetes. In: Hampson, DJ and Stanton, TB (eds), Intestinal Spirochaetes in Domestic Animals and Humans. Wallingford, UK: CAB International, pp.323341.Google Scholar
Kinyon, JM and Harris, DL (1979). Treponema innocens, a new species of intestinal bacteria, and emended description of the type strain of Treponema hyodysenteriae . International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 29: 102109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Leser, TD, Møller, K, Jensen, TK and Jorsal, SE (1997). Specific detection of Serpulina hyodysenteriae and potentially pathogenic weakly β-haemolytic porcine intestinal spirochetes by polymerase chain reaction targeting 23S rDNA. Molecular and Cellular Probes 11: 363372.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lysons, RJ, Lemcke, RM, Bew, J, Burrows, M and Alexander, TJL (1982). An avirulent strain of Treponema hyodysenteriae isolated from herds free of swine dysentery. In: Proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Mexico City, Mexico, p. 40.Google Scholar
Rübsamen, S and Rübsamen, S (1986). Hippurat-Hydrolyse: Ein Schnelltest zur Unterscheidung von Treponema hyodysen-teriae und Treponema innocens . Tierärztliche Umschau 41: 673677.Google Scholar
Stanton, TB Fourniél-Amazouz, E Postic, D Trott, DJ Grimont, PAD Baranton, G Hampson, DJ and Saint Girons I (1997). Recognition of two new species of intestinal spirochetes: Serpulina intermedia sp. nov. and Serpulina murdochii sp. nov. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 47: 10071012.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sutter, VL and Carter, WT (1972). Evaluation of media and reagents for indole-spot tests in anaerobic bacteriology. American Journal of Clinical Pathology 58: 335338.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Teran-Dianderas, M (1997). Rapid detection and identification of porcine Serpulina species by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment analysis. MSc dissertation, University of Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Thomson, JR Smith, WJ Murray, BP and McOrist, S (1997). Pathogenicity of three strains of Serpulina pilosicoli in pigs with a naturally acquired intestinal flora. Infection and Immunity 65: 36933700.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomson, JR Smith, WJ and Murray, BP (1998 a). Investigations into field cases of porcine colitis with particular reference to infection with Serpulina pilosicoli . Veterinary Record 142: 235239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thomson, JR Smith, WJ Sumption, K Murray, BP and Dick, J (1998 b). Mild colitis associated with a genetically distinct variant of Serpulina hyodysenteriae. In: Proceedings of the International Pig Veterinary Society Congress Birmingham, England, Vol. 2, p.60.Google Scholar
Trott, DJ Stanton, TB Jensen, NS Duhamel, GE Johnson, JL and Hampson, DJ (1996). Serpulina pilosicoli sp. nov.: the agent of porcine intestinal spirochetosis. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 46: 206215.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed