Eradication of endemic Brachyspira pilosicoli infection from a farrowing herd: a case report.
Brachyspira pilosicoli and B. innocens were isolated repeatedly from a herd of 60 sows which mostly produced feeder pigs but also raised some fattening pigs. Postweaning diarrhea had been a severe problem in this herd for years. The B. pilosicoli eradication plan was based on the general guidelines for elimination of B. hyodysenteriae, with some modifications. The eradication measures were run in August 1997. In-feed medication with 200 p.p.m. tiamulin lasted for 18-30 days, depending on the age group. The piggery unit was emptied, cleaned, disinfected and dried, and all worn surfaces were repaired. The animals were removed to temporary sheds situated 0-100 m from the piggery unit. Only the sows and the boar returned to the piggery unit. All other pigs were sold from the sheds within 3 months after the eradication. Immediately after the eradication, the clinical postweaning diarrhea disappeared. The success of the program was monitored four times bacteriologically, and the last control sampling was in December 1999, 7 months after the total withdrawal of antimicrobial feed additives. The primary cultures from the last three samplings were also analysed with B. pilosicoli-specific PCR. All the samples were negative for B. pilosicoli. However, B. innocens could be isolated from each batch of samples. The analysis of B. innocens isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis indicated that at least one genotype persisted in the herd. The clinical and laboratory findings suggest that the eradication of B. pilosicoli had succeeded in this herd.
Fossi
M
M
National Veterinary and Food Research Institute, Regional Laboratory in Seinäjoki, Finland. marja.fossi@eela.fi
Heinonen
M
M
Pohjanvirta
T
T
Pelkonen
S
S
Peltoniemi
A T
AT
D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017400:Brachyspira / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D013145:Spirochaetales Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014886:Weaning
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; C014224:tiamulin