title: Detection and isolation of digital dermatitis treponemes from skin and tail lesions in pigs.
abstract: Pig skin lesions are common significant welfare issues, and can cause large economic losses, due to culling of severely affected animals or carcass condemnation at slaughter. It was considered that the treponemal bacteria associated with digital dermatitis (DD) lesions in cattle, sheep and goats may have a role in these pig lesions. Specific diagnostic PCR assays for three cultivable DD Treponema phylogroups were used to survey relevant porcine lesion samples. Using these assays, DD treponemes were detected in 88% (22/25), 72% (8/11) and 82% (14/17) of tail, ear and flank lesions, respectively. Mouth swabs from animals kept in enclosures with high prevalence of skin lesions were positive for the DD treponemes, but not in enclosures with low lesion prevalence. Culture of treponemes from skin lesions resulted in pure isolates of all three DD-associated phylogroups. This study shows a strong association of DD treponemes with a range of pig skin lesions.
authors: Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, United Kingdom. Electronic address: S.R.Clegg@liv.ac.uk.
authors: Simon R
authors: SR
authors: Clegg
authors: Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, United Kingdom.
authors: Leigh E
authors: LE
authors: Sullivan
authors: Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, United Kingdom.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Bell
authors: University of Liverpool, and The George Veterinary Hospital, High Street Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 9AU, United Kingdom.
authors: Roger W
authors: RW
authors: Blowey
authors: Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, United Kingdom.
authors: Stuart D
authors: SD
authors: Carter
authors: Department of Infection Biology, Institute of Infection and Global Health, School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Science Park IC2, 146 Brownlow Hill, Liverpool L3 5RF, United Kingdom.
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Evans
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058066:Digital Dermatitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004423:Ear / Q000382:microbiology; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013623:Tail / Q000382:microbiology; D014208:Treponema / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014211:Treponemal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Digital dermatitis; Pigs; Skin lesions; Spirochetes; Treponema