The use of multilocus enzyme electrophoresis to characterise intestinal spirochaetes (Brachyspira spp.) colonising hens in commercial flocks.

Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE) was used to identify, examine genetic relationships and look at disease associations of a collection of 53 intestinal spirochaete isolates previously recovered from the faeces of adult hens on 14 farms in Qld, Australia. The MLEE results were compared with those previously obtained using species-specific PCR amplifications. The isolates were divided into five Brachyspira species groups by MLEE: Brachyspira murdochii (n=17), B.

Colonisation of pet shop puppies with Brachyspira pilosicoli.

Anaerobic intestinal spirochaetes of the genus Brachyspira are known to colonise dogs, but relatively little is known about their prevalence, distribution or pathogenic potential. One species, Brachyspira pilosicoli, is thought to cause diarrhoea in dogs, as well as in other animals and humans. To investigate the prevalence and distribution of infection, faecal samples from 49 puppies from six pet shops in the suburbs of Perth, Western Australia were subjected to selective culture for anaerobic intestinal spirochaetes.

Epidemiological studies of Brachyspira pilosicoli in two Australian piggeries.

The epidemiology of infection with the intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira pilosicoli within pig herds is incompletely understood. To investigate this further, cross-sectional and cohort studies were undertaken on two piggeries. Faeces were subjected to selective culture, and DNA was extracted from growth on the primary media and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Australian isolates of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae using a new broth dilution method.

The antimicrobial susceptibilities of 76 field isolates of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae from different states of Australia were tested in a newly developed broth dilution procedure. The antimicrobial agents used were tiamulin, valnemulin, tylosin, erythromycin, lincomycin and clindamycin. The results from the broth dilution susceptibility testing of 39 of the isolates were compared with results obtained for the same isolates using the agar dilution method.

Evidence for Serpulina hyodysenteriae being recombinant, with an epidemic population structure.

The population structure of Serpulina hyodysenteriae was investigated using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis. A total of 231 isolates were divided into 50 electrophoretic types (ETs), with a mean genetic diversity of 0.29 for the number of ETs and 0.