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{{Taxobox
|name =''Brachyspira pilosicoli''
|phylum =Spirochaetes
|class =Spirochaetes
|order =Spirochaetales
|family =Brachyspiraceae
|genus =[[:Category:Brachyspira and Serpulina|Brachyspira]]
|species =''B. pilosicoli''
}}
==Introduction==
[[File:Brachyspira pilosicoli.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Figure 1: ''Brachispira pilosicoli'' in culture, stained by Gram stain.]]
'''''Brachyspira pilosicoli''''' is a Gram-negative, spiral shaped bacterium. It is an anaerobic [[Spirochaetes|spirochaete]], closely related to ''[[Brachyspira hyodysenteriae]]''. The bacterium is loosely coiled and is 6-11µm long (Figure 1). It is only weakly haemolytic in contrast to ''B. hyodysenteriae''.
The bacterium may have '''8-12 internalised flagellae''', inserted at either pole of the cell between the inner and outer membranes. The outer membrane contains '''lipopolysaccharide''' (endotoxin). This pathogen can also cause '''zoonotic''' disease in people.
[[Category:Brachyspira_and_Serpulina]][[Category:Pig]]
==Lifecycle==
[[Category:To_Do_-_Bacteria]]
Infection of ''B.pilosicoli'' is acquired via '''ingestion of contaminated faeces'''. Once in the Alimentary tract, the spiral rotating motion allows the bacterium to move through the mucus in the intestine and thus reach and invade its target cells in the large intestine. The organism remains '''infective for long periods in organic matter''' but is '''inactivated by sunlight'''.
The pathogen has been isolated from '''dogs, birds, mice and humans'''. Dogs are thought to be a source of infection for people.
==Diseases==
''B. pilosicoli'' is the cause of '''[[Porcine Intestinal Spirochaetosis|porcine intestinal spirochaetosis]]''' which is a much milder disease than the [[Swine Dysentery|swine dysentery]] caused by ''[[Brachyspira hyodysenteriae]]''.
The presence of the spirochaetes in diarrhoeal faeces is not itself diagnostic because related, but non-pathogenic, species may be present.
==Pathogenesis==
The '''attachment''' of ''B. pilosicoli'' to epithelial cells of colonic mucosa causes oedema, shedding of epithelial cells, haemorrhage and leucocyte infiltration and leading to '''malabsorption'''. The invasion of goblet cells can also lead to '''secretory [[diarrhoea]]'''.
'''Toxins and proteins''' released by B. pilosicoli have '''haemolytic and cytotoxic effects'''. Its membranous '''LPS''' also contains an endotoxin (lipid A).
{{Learning
|literature search= [http://www.cabdirect.org/search.html?rowId=1&options1=AND&q1=%22Brachyspira+pilosicoli%22&occuring1=title&rowId=2&options2=AND&q2=&occuring2=freetext&rowId=3&options3=AND&q3=&occuring3=freetext&x=42&y=14&publishedstart=yyyy&publishedend=yyyy&calendarInput=yyyy-mm-dd&la=any&it=any&show=all ''Brachyspira pilosicoli'' publications]
|flashcards = [[Brachyspira pilosicoli Flashcards|''B. pilosicoli'' Flashcards]]
}}
==References==
<references/>
Hirsh, D. C., Maclachan, N. J., Walker, R. L (2004) '''Veterinary Microbiology 2nd ed.'''. Pp:131-133. ''Wiley-Blackwell, London''.
{{CABI source
|datasheet = [http://www.cabi.org/ahpc/?compid=3&dsid=91832&loadmodule=datasheet&page=2144&site=160 ''Brachyspira pilosicoli'']
|date =11 June 2011
}}
<br><br><br>
{{Andrew Rycroft
|date = January 4, 2012}}
{{OpenPages}}
[[Category:Brachyspira_and_Serpulina]]
[[Category:Pig Bacteria]]
[[Category:Zoonoses]]
[[Category:CABI Expert Review Completed]][[Category:CABI AHPC Pages]]