title: Swine dysentery: aetiology, pathogenicity, determinants of transmission and the fight against the disease.
abstract: Swine Dysentery (SD) is a severe mucohaemorhagic enteric disease of pigs caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, which has a large impact on pig production and causes important losses due to mortality and sub-optimal performance. Although B. hyodysenteriae has been traditionally considered a pathogen mainly transmitted by direct contact, through the introduction of subclinically infected animals into a previously uninfected herd, recent findings position B. hyodysenteriae as a potential threat for indirect transmission between farms. This article summarizes the knowledge available on the etiological agent of SD and its virulence traits, and reviews the determinants of SD transmission. The between-herds and within-herd transmission routes are addressed. The factors affecting disease transmission are thoroughly discussed, i.e., environmental survival of the pathogen, husbandry factors (production system, production stage, farm management), role of vectors, diet influence and interaction of the microorganism with gut microbiota. Finally, prophylactic and therapeutic approaches to fight against the disease are briefly described.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases and Epidemiology Unit, University of León, León 24071, Spain. aalvo@unileon.es
authors.forename: Avelino
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Ordóñez
authors.forename: Francisco Javier
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Martínez-Lobo
authors.forename: Héctor
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arguello
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carvajal
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rubio
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D017401:Brachyspira hyodysenteriae / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D004403:Dysentery / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D013145:Spirochaetales Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy* / Q000635:transmission*; D014774:Virulence