Population structure and molecular epidemiology of Serpulina pilosicolie in australian piggeries

摘要

The porcine weakly beta-haemoIytic intestinal spirochaetes (WBHIS) comprise four distinct species. Serpulina pilosicoli is the agent of porcine intestinal spirochaetosis, and the other three species appear to be non-pathogenic commensals although some strains may be involved in colitis. Very little research has been undertaken to determine the relative distribution of the WBHIS species within pig herds, and the population structure and strain distribution of S.pilosicoli is virtually unknown Fellstrom et al. previously snowed a relationship between the presence of biochemical group IV WBHIS (S. pilosicoli) and diarrhoea in Swedish pig herds. In some cases, WBHIS with three distinct phenotypes were detected in pigs from the one farm. Over a three year period from June 1993 to June 19 percent, we isolated 96 WBHIS from Australian pigs with diarrhoea or production problems and an additional 28 WBHIS isolates were obtained from overseas collaborators. In the present study multitocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) was used to: a) confirm the identity of each WBHIS, and therefore determine association between a particular WBHIS species and diarrhoea in Australian pigs; b) examine the population structure and strain distribution of S. pilosicoli: and c)compare genetic relationships between S. pilosicoli strains isolated from pigs, humans, dogs and avian species.