Pathogenicity of Intestinal Spirochetes Associated with Porcine Colonic Spirochetosis

Authors

Gerald Duhmel, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Nagaraja Muniappa, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Michelle R. Mathiesen, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1996

Comments

Published in 1996 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report; published by Agricultural Research Division, Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Abstract

We reported on a new species of intestinal spirochete bacterium, Serpulina pilosicoli/, associated with a diarrheal disease of grower-finisher swine, called porcine colonic spirochetosis (PCS). In this report we show that Serpulina pilosicoli, associated with outbreaks of PCS in the United States, attached to the cecal surface of chicks while Serpulina innocens, a non-pathogenic intestinal spirochete, did not. These findings support a role for Serpulina pilosicoli as a cause of diarrhea and reduced feed efficiency in swine.