Experimental infection of broiler breeder hens with the intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira ( Serpulina ) pilosicoli causes reduced egg production
TL;DR: This study confirms that B. pilosicoli can cause serious egg production losses in adult chickens, while B. innocens is not obviously pathogenic.
Abstract: The pathogenic potential of the anaerobic intestinal spirochaetes Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli and Brachyspira innocens was evaluated in adult chickens. Thirty 17-week-old Cobb broiler breeder hens were individually caged in three groups of 10 birds. Control birds (group A) were sham inoculated with sterile broth medium. Birds in the other two groups (groups B and C) were inoculated, respectively, with an isolate of B. innocens or of B. pilosicoli. Birds were monitored daily, and killed at 41 weeks of age. Infection had no consistent effect on body weight gain, but inoculation with B. pilosicoli resulted in a transient increase in faecal water content. B. innocens infection had no effect on egg production, but B. pilosicoli infection caused a delayed onset of laying, and a highly significant reduction in egg production over the first 11 weeks of lay. This study confirms that B. pilosicoli can cause serious egg production losses in adult chickens, while B. innocens is not obviously pathogenic.
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TL;DR: Cecal samples from laying chickens from 25 farms with a history of decreased egg production, diarrhea, and/or increased feed conversion ratios were examined for anaerobic intestinal spirochetes of the genus Brachyspira, and the pathogenic species B. alvinipulli was present in two flocks, and this is the first confirmed report of natural infection of chickens outside the United States.
Abstract: Cecal samples from laying chickens from 25 farms with a history of decreased egg production, diarrhea, and/or increased feed conversion ratios were examined for anaerobic intestinal spirochetes of the genus Brachyspira. Seventy-three samples positive in an immunofluorescence assay for Brachyspira species were further examined using selective anaerobic culture, followed by phenotypic analysis, species-specific PCRs (for Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, B. intermedia, and B. pilosicoli), and a Brachyspira genus-specific PCR with sequencing of the partial 16S rRNA gene products. Brachyspira cultures were obtained from all samples. Less than half of the isolates could be identified to the species level on the basis of their biochemical phenotypes, while all but four isolates (5.2%) were speciated by using PCR and sequencing of DNA extracted from the bacteria. Different Brachyspira spp. were found within a single flock and also in cultures from single chickens, emphasizing the need to obtain multiple samples when investigating outbreaks of avian intestinal spirochetosis. The most commonly detected spirochetes were the pathogenic species B. intermedia and B. pilosicoli. The presumed nonpathogenic species B. innocens, B. murdochii, and the proposed “B. pulli” also were identified. Pathogenic B. alvinipulli was present in two flocks, and this is the first confirmed report of B. alvinipulli in chickens outside the United States. Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, the agent of swine dysentery, also was identified in samples from three flocks. This is the first confirmed report of natural infection of chickens with B. hyodysenteriae. Experimental infection studies are required to assess the pathogenic potential of these B. hyodysenteriae isolates.
65 citations
TL;DR: Closing this knowledge gap will improve management strategies that intercept and interfere with odour formation and emission processes leading to an overall reduction in the potential to cause community impacts.
65 citations
Cites background from "Experimental infection of broiler b..."
...Poultry excreta is a mixture of faeces and urine (Collett, 2012) and has a moisture content ranging from 55% (Miles et al., 2011b; Stephens and Hampson, 2002) to 83% (van der Hoeven-Hangoor et al....
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...Poultry excreta is a mixture of faeces and urine (Collett, 2012) and has a moisture content ranging from 55% (Miles et al., 2011b; Stephens and Hampson, 2002) to 83% (van der Hoeven-Hangoor et al., 2014) (for birds that were free from illness or disease)....
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TL;DR: Investigation in humans and dogs living on three tea estates in Assam, India found that colonization with the anaerobic intestinal spirochaetes Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachypira pilosicoli was widespread and significant factors were infection of family members with B. aalboroughi and use of water treatment and not having visited a doctor in the previous year.
Abstract: The prevalence of colonization with the anaerobic intestinal spirochaetes Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli was investigated in humans (n = 316) and dogs (n = 101) living on three tea estates in Assam, India. Colonization was detected using PCR on DNA from faeces. Nineteen (6%) human faecal samples contained B. aalborgi DNA, 80 (25.3%) contained B. pilosicoli DNA, and 10 (3.2%) contained DNA from both species. One canine sample contained DNA from B. pilosicoli. Significant factors for B. aalborgi colonization in logistic regression were: infection of family members with B. aalborgi (P < 0.001), being a resident of Balipara (P = 0.03), and use of water treatment (P = 0.03). For B. pilosicoli, significant factors were: other family members being positive for B. pilosicoli (P < 0.001), water obtained from a well (P = 0.006), water treatment (P = 0.03), and not having visited a doctor in the previous 12 months (P = 0.03).
58 citations
Cites background from "Experimental infection of broiler b..."
...water content directly, and exacerbates diarrhoea due to nutritional and other infectious causes [39, 40]....
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TL;DR: Following initial infection of individual young hens on this farm there was amplification and transmission of infection amongst members of the flock, suggesting cross-transmission of strains between flocks.
51 citations
TL;DR: It is shown that L. reuteri LM1 mitigates the clinical symptoms of AIS in chickens experimentally challenged with B. pilosicoli and may be a useful tool in the control of A IS.
Abstract: Avian intestinal spirochaetosis (AIS) results from the colonization of the caeca and colon of poultry by pathogenic Brachyspira, notably Brachyspira pilosicoli. Following the ban on the use of antibiotic growth promoters in the European Union in 2006, the number of cases of AIS has increased, which, alongside emerging antimicrobial resistance in Brachyspira, has driven renewed interest in alternative intervention strategies. Lactobacillus-based probiotics have been shown to protect against infection with common enteric pathogens in livestock. Our previous studies have shown that Lactobacillus reuteri LM1 antagonizes aspects of the pathobiology of Brachyspira in vitro. Here, we showed that L. reuteri LM1 mitigates the clinical symptoms of AIS in chickens experimentally challenged with B. pilosicoli. Two groups of 15 commercial laying hens were challenged experimentally by oral gavage with B. pilosicoli B2904 at 18 weeks of age; one group received unsupplemented drinking water and the other received L. reuteri LM1 in drinking water from 1 week prior to challenge with Brachyspira and thereafter for the duration of the study. This treatment regime was protective. Specifically, B. pilosicoli was detected by culture in fewer birds, bird weights were higher, faecal moisture contents were significantly lower (P<0.05) and egg production as assessed by egg weight and faecal staining score was improved (P<0.05). Also, at post-mortem examination, significantly fewer B. pilosicoli were recovered from treated birds (P<0.05), with only mild–moderate histopathological changes observed. These data suggest that L. reuteri LM1 may be a useful tool in the control of AIS.
47 citations
Cites background or methods from "Experimental infection of broiler b..."
...Of the seven documented species, three are considered pathogenic in poultry, as demonstrated by experimental challenge with Brachyspira alvinipulli (Stanton et al., 1998), Brachyspira intermedia (Hampson & McLaren, 1999) and Brachyspira pilosicoli (Stephens & Hampson, 2002b)....
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...Scoring was performed blind, with 0 denoting a clean eggshell and 5 a heavily stained eggshell, as previously described (Stephens & Hampson, 2002a)....
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References
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TL;DR: Two nonpathogenic types of treponemes isolated from pigs and dogs are regarded as belonging to a new species, Treponema innocens, and an emended description of strain B78, the type strain of T. hyodysenteriae is presented.
Abstract: Twelve treponemes with serpentine morphology were isolated from pigs and dogs and were compared with strain B78, the type strain of Treponema hyodysenteriae Harris et al. Nine of the 12 were isolated from cases of swine dysentery, and these were similar in characteristics to strain B78. The three other isolates were not enteropathogenic for swine and could be differentiated from the aforementioned nine isolates on the basis of enteropathogenicity, hemolytic pattern, deoxyribonucleic acid homology, fructose fermentation, and indole production. The morphological and metabolic characters of the 12 isolates and an emended description of strain B78, the type strain of T. hyodysenteriae, are presented in this report. Based on these data, the nonpathogenic types are regarded as belonging to a new species, Treponema innocens. The type strain of T. innocens is strain B256 (=ATCC 29796).
206 citations
"Experimental infection of broiler b..." refers background in this paper
...B. innocens is generally considered to be a nonpathogenic spirochaete in conventional pigs (Kinyon & Harris, 1979), although porcine strains of this species have caused mucoid faeces and typhlocolitis in gnotobiotic pigs (Neef et al., 1994)....
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TL;DR: Three liquid media that differ slightly in composition but not in the method of preparation were developed for the propagation of TrePonema hyodysenteriae and Treponema innocens and supported better growth of T. hyodysteriae than did previously used liquid media.
Abstract: Three liquid media that differ slightly in composition but not in the method of preparation were developed for the propagation of Treponema hyodysenteriae and Treponema innocens. The three media are unique in that all components are sterilized by autoclaving before use. These media supported better growth of T. hyodysenteriae than did previously used liquid media.
144 citations
"Experimental infection of broiler b..." refers methods in this paper
...For experimental infection, the spirochaetes were grown to mid-log phase in Kunkle’s anaerobic broth (Kunkle et al., 1986)....
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TL;DR: The association between seeing spirochetes in biopsy specimens and isolating S. pilosicoli was statistically significant, clearly indicating that thisSpirochete is the agent of IS.
Abstract: Histologic evidence of intestinal spirochetosis (IS) was found in 22 of 41 (53.7%) rectal biopsy specimens from homosexual men attending a sexually transmitted diseases clinic. Serpulina pilosicoli was cultured from 11 of the IS-positive biopsy specimens (50%) and from 2 specimens (10.5%) in which spirochetes were not observed. The association between seeing spirochetes in biopsy specimens and isolating S. pilosicoli was statistically significant, clearly indicating that this spirochete is the agent of IS.
127 citations
"Experimental infection of broiler b..." refers background in this paper
...B. pilosicoli is of particular comparative interest because it colonizes many bird and animal species, including humans (Trott et al., 1997a,b; Oxberry et al., 1998; Trivett-Moore et al., 1998; Brooke et al., 2001)....
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...pilosicoli is of particular comparative interest because it colonizes many bird and animal species, including humans (Trott et al., 1997a,b; Oxberry et al., 1998; Trivett-Moore et al., 1998; Brooke et al., 2001)....
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TL;DR: The identification of three genetic groups containing pathogenic isolates provides an opportunity for more detailed epidemiologic studies with these pathogens and for the development of improved diagnostic tests.
Abstract: Infection with intestinal spirochetes has recently been recognized as a cause of lost production in the poultry industry Little is known about these organisms, so a collection of 56 isolates originating from chickens in commercial flocks in Australia, the United States, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom was examined Strength of beta-hemolysis on blood agar, indole production, API ZYM enzyme profiles, and cellular morphology were determined, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis was used to analyze the extent of genetic diversity among the isolates The results were compared with those previously obtained for well-characterized porcine intestinal spirochetes The chicken isolates were genetically heterogeneous They were divided into 40 electrophoretic types distributed among six diverse genetic groups (groups b to g), with a mean genetic diversity of 0587 Strains in two groups (groups d and e) may represent new species of Serpulina, and the groups contained only strains isolated from chickens Three genetic groups contained isolates previously shown to be pathogenic for chickens These corresponded to the proposed species "Serpulina intermedius," to an unnamed group (group e), and to Serpulina pilosicoli Two of the chicken isolates (one "S intermedius" and one S pilosicoli isolate) were strongly beta-hemolytic, two (both "S intermedius") had an intermediate level of beta-hemolysis, and the rest were weakly beta-hemolytic Fourteen isolates of "S intermedius" produced indole, as did one isolate from group d Isolates identified as S pilosicoli resembled porcine isolates of this species, having four to six periplasmic flagella inserted subterminally in a single row at each end of the cell, and had tapered cell ends All other spirochetes were morphologically similar, having seven or more periplasmic flagella and blunt cell ends The identification of three genetic groups containing pathogenic isolates provides an opportunity for more detailed epidemiologic studies with these pathogens and for the development of improved diagnostic tests
107 citations
"Experimental infection of broiler b..." refers background in this paper
...In the Netherlands, experimental infection of adult birds with spirochaete strain 1380, later identified as B. intermedia (McLaren et al., 1997), resulted in increased faecal water content, reduced egg production and poor performance in broilers hatched from the infected birds (Dwars et al., 1989,…...
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...…with is Brachyspira intermedia (Griffiths et al., 1987; Dwars et al., 1992a,b, 1993), although ISSN 0307-9457 (print)/ISSN 1465-3338 (online)/02/020169-07 © 2002 Houghton Trust Ltd DOI: 10.1080/03079450120118667 strains of Brachyspira pilosicoli have also been identified (McLaren et al., 1997)....
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...Several different species of intestinal spirochaetes naturally colonize chickens, and not all are necessarily capable of causing disease (McLaren et al., 1997)....
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...Other intestinal spirochaete species, including Brachyspira innocens, have also been isolated from Australian chickens (McLaren et al., 1997)....
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TL;DR: The phenotypic and genetic characteristics of spirochetes isolated from the blood of one U.S. and six French patients with severe clinical disease or impaired immunity were examined, and apparently S. pilosicoli may translocate from the large intestine to establish spiroChetemia.
Abstract: The phenotypic and genetic characteristics of spirochetes isolated from the blood of one U.S. and six French patients with severe clinical disease or impaired immunity were examined. All spirochetes were anaerobic, weakly beta-hemolytic, positive for hippurate hydrolysis, and negative for beta-glucosidase activity. Cell lengths ranged from 4 to 8 microm, and each isolate had between 8 and 12 periplasmic flagella per cell. These features were consistent with the spirochetes' being Serpulina pilosicoli, the agent of intestinal spirochetosis. All isolates were positive in a PCR assay amplifying a portion of the S. pilosicoli 16S rRNA gene, and they all grouped with fecal isolates of S. pilosicoli in multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE). The blood isolates could be differentiated from each other by MLEE, although the U.S. and two French isolates were closely related. Apparently S. pilosicoli may translocate from the large intestine to establish spirochetemia. The clinical significance of this finding remains uncertain and requires further investigation.
99 citations
"Experimental infection of broiler b..." refers background in this paper
...B. pilosicoli is of particular comparative interest because it colonizes many bird and animal species, including humans (Trott et al., 1997a,b; Oxberry et al., 1998; Trivett-Moore et al., 1998; Brooke et al., 2001)....
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