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The 23S rRNA gene PCR-RFLP used for characterization of porcine intestinal spirochete isolates.

Using three reference strains of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae (B204, B234, B169), one B. pilosicoli (P43/6/78), one B. murdochii (56-150), one B. intermedia (PWS/A), one B. innocens (B256) and ten Korean isolates, PCR-RFLP analysis of DNA encoding 23S rRNA was performed to establish a rapid and accurate method for characterizing porcine intestinal spirochetes. Consequently, B. hyodysenteriae and B. pilosicoli revealed different restriction patterns; however, the other three species shared the same pattern. These findings are not consistent with a prior report. Differences in 23S rRNA gene sequences, between two B. murdochii strains, 56-150 and 155-20, were observed. These results indicate that 23S rRNA PCR-RFLP could be used as an identification method for pathogenic Brachyspira spp. (B. hyodysenteriae and B. pilosicoli) as well as an epidemiological tool for characterizing spirochetes isolated from swine.

Animals↗

Spirochetes in Ixodes dammini and mammals from Connecticut.

Spirochetes were observed in the midguts of 35% of 147 motile Ixodes dammini from three locations in Lyme and East Haddam, Connecticut. Positive ticks were removed from eastern chipmunks (Tamias striatus), raccoons (Procyon lotor), white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus), and a red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus). Spirochetes were isolated in fortified Kelly's medium from nine questing or partially engorged I. dammini adults and nymphs and from the bloods of a raccoon and a white-footed mouse. Connecticut isolates from ticks and mammals were serologically indistinguishable from the original Shelter Island, New York strain when cross-tested by immunofluorescence against their mouse antisera. Sera from eight patients diagnosed as having Lyme disease contained antibodies to spirochetes isolated from ticks and mammals. Our finding of serologically and morphologically indistinguishable spirochetes in a raccoon, white-footed mouse and ticks suggests that closely related serotypes are present in wild mammals commonly parasitized by I. dammini, and further supports the claim that a spirochete is involved in the etiology of Lyme disease.

Animals↗

Antibiotic selective markers and spirochete genetics.

Until very recently, the pathogenic spirochetes have been refractory to genetic manipulation. This has been due, in part, to difficulties with in vitro growth and the genetic distance that spirochetes are from typical Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms. Insertional mutagenesis and other genetic techniques are now possible in some of the pathogenic spirochetes such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Brachyspira (Serpulina) hyodysenteriae, Leptospira sp., and Treponema denticola. However, organisms such as Treponema pallidum, which cannot be grown in vitro, are still not amenable to genetic manipulation. These recent advances have paved the way for more detailed genetic studies of transcriptional regulation, protein function, protein localization, metabolic capabilities, motility, and pathogenic nature of this group of spirochetes. This review article will discuss the current repertoire of antibiotic markers that are useful for spirochetal genetic manipulation. Further advances in selectable markers and shuttle vectors will allow researchers to complete Koch's molecular hypothesis for various virulence genes of the pathogenic spirochetes and increase the overall understanding of these challenging bacteria.

Animals↗

Development of shuttle vectors for spirochetes.

Constructions of Escherichia coli-spirochete shuttle vectors are based on naturally occurring plasmids, broad host range plasmids or bacteriophages. This review primarily focuses on genetic tools for Treponema denticola which is associated with periodontal diseases. The T. pallidum FlaA protein, E. coli beta-galactosidase, and the green fluorescent protein were successfully expressed in T. denticola from a shuttle vector system.

Flagellin↗

Transcriptional regulation in spirochetes.

Spirochetes belong to a widely diverse family of bacteria. Several species in this family can cause a variety of illnesses including syphilis and Lyme disease. Despite the fact that the complete genome sequence of two species, Borrelia burgdorferi and Treponema pallidum, have been deciphered, much remains to be understood about spirochetal gene regulation. In this review we focus on the environmental transitions that spirochetes undergo during their life cycles and the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation that might possibly mediate spirochetal adaptations to such changes.

Animals↗

Weakly beta-haemolytic human intestinal spirochaetes antagonize the haemolytic activity of Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin producer.

The production of haemolytic antagonism between weakly beta-haemolytic human intestinal spirochaetes (wbetaHIS) related to human intestinal spirochaetosis and Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin producer was investigated. A reduction of the clostridial haemolytic activity and a distortion of the haemolytic halo of clostridial alpha-toxin surrounded by a small zone of poorly cooperative haemolysis was clearly observed on the level of the spirochaetal growth area when 40 out of 41 wbetaHIS were cultivated in sheep blood agar plates together with Clostridium perfringens alpha-toxin producer. This phenomenon of haemolytic antagonism was observed only when wbetaHIS grew 72-96 hours sooner than C. perfringens and after the inoculum of the latter at a distance of 0 to 10 mm from wbetaHIS the plates were anaerobically incubated for an additional 48 hours and the bacteria were used at concentrations ranging from 10(7) to 10(4) CFU/ml. These results were also observed between C. perfringens and weakly beta-haemolytic intestinal spirochaetes related to animal intestinal spirochaetosis including avian strains and Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli of porcine origin.

Animals↗

[Diagnosis of swine dysentery and spirochaetal diarrhea. III. Results of cultural and biochemical differentiation of intestinal Brachyspira species by routine culture from 1997 to 1999].

A survey is given on the occurrence and distribution of different Brachyspira species in pigs, in the northwest of Germany. In total 2975 specimen (feces, fecal swabs, colon) were taken and sent for laboratory analysis during the years 1997 to 1999. 1218 Brachyspira (B.) strains were found by cultural analysis. 1757 samples (59%) were negative. The cultural and biochemical differentiation revealed 720 (59.1%) strains B. hyodysenteriae (77.5% were indole negative), 22 (1.8%) B. pilosicoli, 29 (2.4%) B. intermedia, 167 (3.7%) B. innocens and 114 (9.4%) B. murdochii. 166 (13.6%) strains could not be identified. These strains could either not be compared with any of the described species by the methods used or it was impossible to achieve a pure culture from these isolates. The results demonstrate the wide spread of B. hyodysenteriae in pig herds in the northwest of Germany with a very high prevalence of indole negative strains. The most frequent strain was B. hyodysenteriae. B. pilosicoli which causes spirochaetal diarrhoea was rarely isolated and seems not to play an important role in Germany. Experience from routine cultures for Brachyspira give evidence that it is more useful to examine faeces from single pigs instead of pooled samples from a herd. It is recommended to use special transport media for the transport of the specimen.

Animals↗

The prevalence of human intestinal spirochetosis in Norway.

The prevalence of human intestinal spirochetosis (HIS) was determined histologically in 402 subjects from South Norway (Kristiansand) who had undergone colorectal resections during the period June 1991-June 1996. The figures were compared with those from a previous mid-Norwegian study (Trondheim) comprising 1205 patients with large bowel resections as well as colonoscopic mucosal biopsies examined in 1990. The studies showed a prevalence of HIS of 2.5% in mid-Norway and 3.0% in South Norway, and in both regions there was a considerable male predominance of HIS (70% and 75%, respectively). Furthermore, HIS was more often diagnosed by the pathologists in South Norway (25%) than in mid-Norway (6.5%).

Adolescent↗

Porcine enteric spirochete infections in the UK: surveillance data and preliminary investigation of atypical isolates.

Investigations into the possible causes of colitis and typhlocolitis were carried out on 98 pig units in the United Kingdom between 1997 and 1999. Brachyspira pilosicoli was identified most commonly, occurring as the suggested primary agent in 18% of the outbreaks but forming part of mixed infections in another 24% of outbreaks. The equivalent figures for other bacterial pathogens were: B. hyodysenteriae, 13% and 16%; Lawsonia intracellularis, 10% and 15%: Salmonella species, 6% and 12%; and Yersinia species, 4% and 10%. Unclassified Brachyspira species of unknown pathogenicity were identified in 12% of outbreaks. The 24 unclassified isolates divided into three groups on the basis of their phenotypic characteristics. In addition, there were 50 atypical Brachyspira species isolates that showed differences between their phenotypic characteristics and genetic identity based on sequence analysis of a section of the 23S rDNA gene. Four representative atypical isolates were found to be pathogenic as a result of an experimental oral challenge study in pigs.

Animals↗

Spirochetes--the possible etiological factor of the cheilitis granulomatosa.

OBJECTIVE: To detect spirochetes in sections and to study the therapeutic effect of penicillin in cheilitis granulomatosa (CG) and Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome (MRS) and the relationship between the spirochetes infection and CG and MRS. METHODS: Routine HE sections and Warthin-Starry special staining were carried out in 20 cases of CG and 6 cases of MRS. Meanwhile there were 9 cases of CG and 2 caes of MRS were treated by penicillin (12 000 000u, i.v., per day) for two courses (14 days). RESULTS: A kind of spirochete was discovered in the sections of all cases of the CG and MRS. The CG and MRS could be divided into two types histopathologically, that is granuloma type and interstitial inflammatory type (non-granuloma type), those morphological changes tallied with spirochetosis. After treatment by penicillin, the facial and labial swelling of the 11 cases of CG and MRS were abated. CONCLUSION: CG and MRS probably are infectious diseases caused by spirochetes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Influence of medication on development of serum antibody to swine dysentery as detected with indirect fluorescent antibody method.

Serums from 119 swine exposed to swine dysentery inoculum, and medicated with various drugs, were tested for antibodies to the large spirochete, using the indirect fluorescent antibody test, and were compared in tests with known positive serums from 18 nonmedicated swine which had recovered naturally. An inverse relationship existed between the efficacy of the drug and the serum antibody titer (highest dilution of the serum producing immunofluorescence of large spirochetes). The more efficacious drugs or doses resulted in lesser development of serum antibody. Diarrhea usually seemed necessary for the development of serum antibody. With the less efficacious drugs, there were more days of diarrhea. Some swine had diarrhea but did not develop an antibody titer, and a few swine had a titer but did not develop diarrhea. Swine which developed a titer were more immune against reexposure with infective inoculum. The medicaments, especially those given at higher concentrations, seemed to resolve the diarrhea or prevent the development of diarrhea, occurrences which were necessary for the development of immunity.

Animals↗