title: Brachyspira pilosicoli-induced avian intestinal spirochaetosis.
abstract: Avian intestinal spirochaetosis (AIS) is a common disease occurring in poultry that can be caused by Brachyspira pilosicoli, a Gram-negative bacterium of the order Spirochaetes. During AIS, this opportunistic pathogen colonises the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract of poultry (principally, the ileum, caeca, and colon), which can cause symptoms such as diarrhoea, reduced growth rate, and reduced egg production and quality. Due to the large increase of bacterial resistance to antibiotic treatment, the European Union banned in 2006 the prophylactic use of antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock. Consequently, the number of outbreaks of AIS has dramatically increased in the UK resulting in significant economic losses. This review summarises the current knowledge about AIS infection caused by B. pilosicoli and discusses various treatments and prevention strategies to control AIS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Caroline I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Le Roy
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Luke J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Mappley
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Surrey, Guilford, UK.|Department of Bacteriology, APHA, Weybridge, UK.
authors.forename: Roberto M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: La Ragione
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Martin J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Woodward
authors.affiliation: Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK; s.p.claus@reading.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Sandrine P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Claus
keywords: Brachyspira pilosicoli; microbiology; poultry