Brachyspira murdochii colitis in pigs.
The weakly beta-hemolytic porcine spirochete Brachyspira murdochii is considered a normal intestinal commensal. In the present study, however, a field case of B murdochii-associated catarrhal colitis was identified in a pig, as characterized by extensive spirochetal colonization of the surface epithelium. Experimentally, 8 weaned pigs were challenged with the B murdochii isolate, reproducing catarrhal colitis in 2 animals. By applying fluorescent in situ hybridization using a species-specific oligonucleotide probe targeting 23S rRNA, B murdochii organisms were found in high numbers and were closely associated with the surface epithelium in the pigs with catarrhal colitis. The results indicate that, when present in high numbers, B murdochii is low pathogenic for pigs.
Jensen
T K
TK
National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark. tije@vet.dtu.dk
Christensen
A S
AS
Boye
M
M
D000818:Animals; D017400:Brachyspira / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003092:Colitis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012338:RNA, Ribosomal, 23S