Brachyspira hyodysenteriae
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- An anaerobic spirochaete.
- Causes swine dysentery.
- B. hyodysenteriae causes swine dysentery
- Infection is acquired via contaminated faeces
- Disease spreads slowly through the herd
- Dogs, rats, mice and flies may act as transport hosts
- B. hyodysenteriae survives several weeks in moist faeces
- Clinical signs
- B. hyodysenteriae causes dysentry in weaned pigs 6-12 weeks old; pigs lose condition and become emaciated; appetite is decreased; large amount of mucous may be present in the faeces; low mortality; poor feed conversion ratio
- Diagnosis
- History, clinical signs and gross pathology
- Anaerobic culture on blood agar with added antibiotics for at least 3 days
- B. hyodysenteriae causes complete haemolysis whereas other spirochaetes cause partial haemolysis
- Immunofluorescence, DNA probes and biochemical tests
- Serology using ELISA can be used on a herd basis
- PCR