title: Identification of the swine pathogen Serpulina hyodysenteriae in rheas (Rhea americana).
abstract: Recently intestinal spirochetes were isolated from rheas in Ohio and Iowa with a necrotizing typhlocolitis. These intestinal spirochetes, strains R1 and NIV-1, were characterized and compared with other intestinal spirochetes, including strains of S. hyodysenteriae. Both rhea spirochetes were indole positive, strongly beta-hemolytic, grew under a 1% O2:99% N2 atmosphere, and were morphologically similar to spirochetes in the genus Serpulina. Analysis of rRNA gene restriction patterns (ribotypes), and immunoblots of whole cell proteins, indicated both spirochetes were similar to Serpulina hyodysenteriae strains from swine. Comparisons of nearly complete sequences (> 1458 bases) of the 16S rRNA gene of the two rhea spirochetes with S. hyodysenteriae strains confirmed that rhea spirochetes R1 and NIV-1 were strains of S. hyodysenteriae. These results indicate that S. hyodysenteriae has a broader host range than previously recognized.
authors.affiliation: Enteric Diseases and Food Safety Research Unit, National Animal Disease Center, Ames, IA 50010, USA. njensen@nadc.ars.usda.gov
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: T B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Stanton
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Swayne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001483:Base Sequence; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D001717:Birds; D017401:Brachyspira hyodysenteriae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010641:Phenotype; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D011817:Rabbits; D013145:Spirochaetales Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D007106:Immune Sera; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S