RESUMEN
Nowadays, the three strongly beta-haemolytic spirochaetes, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Brachyspira suanatina and Brachyspira hampsonii are thought to be causative agents of swine dysentery, an economically devastating disease of grow-finish pigs characterised by severe mucohaemorrhagic diarrhoea. B. hyodysenteriae has been reported in most leading swine-producing regions. B. suanatina and B. hampsonii have been successfully recovered from faecal samples collected in a few countries only. The present study was performed in March 2023 on faecal samples originating from nine Polish finisher farms with 6,000 to 18,000 animals in a location. Samples were obtained from 40 diarrhoeic finishers. Nucleic acid extracted from the samples was analysed using multiplex PCR for Brachyspira spp. From a total of nine sample populations examined in our study, the genetic material of B. hampsonii was identified in two. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on molecular detection of B. hampsonii on pig farms outside North America, Belgium and Germany. Our research highlights the need for increased focus directed on laboratory testing strategies, the lack of which may perplex swine practitioners and severely hinder a definite diagnosis.
Asunto(s)
Brachyspira , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas , Enfermedades de los Porcinos , Animales , Polonia/epidemiología , Enfermedades de los Porcinos/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Porcinos/epidemiología , Porcinos , Brachyspira/aislamiento & purificación , Brachyspira/genética , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/veterinaria , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/microbiología , Infecciones por Bacterias Gramnegativas/epidemiología , Heces/microbiologíaRESUMEN
Introduction: Prior to the 2000s, swine dysentery was considered to be caused only by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae with contributing commensal intestinal anaerobes. Nowadays, it is known that the disease is caused by three strongly beta-haemolytic species of the anaerobic spirochaetal genus Brachyspira, i.e. B. hyodysenteriae and newly emerged B. hampsonii and B. suanatina. Material and Methods: The present investigation was carried out in November 2022 on nine Polish high-performing finisher pig farms. At every location one fresh pooled faecal sample was collected from 40 randomly selected pigs of between 60 and 110 kg live weight. Nucleic acid extracted from each pooled faecal sample was analysed by an in-house multiplex PCR for Brachyspira spp., which is capable of confirming the Brachyspira genus and detecting and differentiating Brachyspira species. Results: From a total of nine samples examined, the genetic material of B. suanatina was detected in seven. Non-pathogenic/questionably pathogenic Brachyspira spp. were found in six samples. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the identification of B. suanatina in pigs outside Scandinavia, Germany and the United Kingdom. Our research not only provides valuable epidemiological data on B. suanatina infection in Europe but also highlights both the importance of modern laboratory diagnostics and the need for thorough investigation across regions, including retrospective studies.