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Journal ArticleDOI

Experimental infection of layer hens with a human isolate of Brachyspira pilosicoli

01 Apr 2003-Journal of Medical Microbiology (Microbiology Society)-Vol. 52, Iss: 4, pp 361-364
TL;DR: Findings confirm that B. pilosicoli strains can infect across species barriers and cause chronic mild diarrhoea in intact adult chickens.
Abstract: The anaerobic intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira pilosicoli commonly colonizes the large intestine of a number of species, including chickens and human beings. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether an isolate of B. pilosicoli recovered from an HIV-infected patient with diarrhoea could infect and cause disease in adult chickens. Over a 4-week period following experimental infection, a group of eight inoculated chickens showed a persistent and significant increase in faecal water content (∼6–7 %). The faeces of three of the eight birds became culture-positive, and remained so. At post-mortem examination, no specific pathological changes were found, and no spirochaetal attachment to the caecal epithelium was observed. These findings confirm that B. pilosicoli strains can infect across species barriers and cause chronic mild diarrhoea in intact adult chickens.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
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 from "Experimental infection of layer hen..."

  • ...Rather than a direct effect of the lactobacilli reducing faecal moisture content, it is probable that this effect resulted from the mitigation of B. pilosicoli colonization and infection, hence alleviating clinical symptoms including increased faecal moisture content (Jamshidi & Hampson, 2003)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Clinicians and clinical microbiologists are encouraged to consider B. pilosicoli in their differential diagnoses and to develop and use appropriate diagnostic protocols to identify the spirochete in clinical specimens.
Abstract: Brachyspira pilosicoli is a slow-growing anaerobic spirochete that colonizes the large intestine. Colonization occurs commonly in pigs and adult chickens, causing colitis/typhlitis, diarrhea, poor growth rates, and reduced production. Colonization of humans also is common in some populations (individuals living in village and peri-urban settings in developing countries, recent immigrants from developing countries, homosexual males, and HIV-positive patients), but the spirochete rarely is investigated as a potential human enteric pathogen. In part this is due to its slow growth and specialized growth requirements, meaning that it is not detectable in human fecal samples using routine diagnostic methods. Nevertheless, it has been identified histologically attached to the colon and rectum in patients with conditions such as chronic diarrhea, rectal bleeding, and/or nonspecific abdominal discomfort, and one survey of Australian Aboriginal children showed that colonization was significantly associated with failure to thrive. B. pilosicoli has been detected in the bloodstream of elderly patients or individuals with chronic conditions such as alcoholism and malignancies. This review describes the spirochete and associated diseases. It aims to encourage clinicians and clinical microbiologists to consider B. pilosicoli in their differential diagnoses and to develop and use appropriate diagnostic protocols to identify the spirochete in clinical specimens.

40 citations


Cites background from "Experimental infection of layer hen..."

  • ...(58–61), laying chickens (133), or mice (134, 135)....

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  • ...resulted in a persistent and significant increase in fecal water content (133)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Aalborgi and B. pilosicoli can be transferred to humans via contact with the feces of infected animals, meat from infected animals or food contaminated by food handlers as discussed by the authors.

38 citations


Cites background from "Experimental infection of layer hen..."

  • ...However, the inoculated birds produced fecal droppings that were significantly higher in moisture content (31)....

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  • ...Similarly, Stephens and Hampson (75) found that 40.6% of 69 broiler breeder, broiler, and layer poultry flocks from eastern Australia were infected with spirochetes....

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  • ...Hampson (23) stated that the poultry industry has not recognized how widespread colonic spirochetosis is in poultry and its economic importance....

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  • ...Human colonic spirochetosis has been described by Mikosza and Hampson (49) as ‘‘a condition defined by the presence of a layer of spirochetes attached by one cell end to the colorectal epithelium.’’...

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  • ...Stephens and Hampson (77) and Jamshidi and Hampson (31) reported that the addition of Zn bacitracin to the diets of broiler breeders and layer hens increased the susceptibility of chickens to B. pilosicoli infection and colonization....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Bans on the prophylactic use of antimicrobials in livestock are driving an urgent requirement for alternative treatment strategies for Brachyspira-related diseases, such as AIS, and the potential for the development of tools for genetic manipulation to gain an improved understanding of the pathogenesis.

36 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A reproducible model of infection in point-of-lay chickens is developed and the virulence of two strains of B. pilosicoli are compared to improve understanding of the mechanisms by which Brachyspira elicit disease in poultry and in testing novel intervention strategies.
Abstract: Brachyspira pilosicoli is a potentially zoonotic anaerobic intestinal spirochaete that is one of several species causing avian intestinal spirochaetosis. The aim of this study was to develop a reproducible model of infection in point-of-lay chickens and compare the virulence of two strains of B. pilosicoli in a model using experimentally challenged laying chickens. Seventeen-week-old commercial laying chickens were experimentally challenged by oral gavage with either B. pilosicoli strain B2904 or CPSp1, following an oral dose of 10 % sodium bicarbonate to neutralize acidity in the crop. Approximately 80 % of the chickens became colonized and exhibited increased faecal moisture content, reduced weight gain and delayed onset of lay. Tissues sampled at post-mortem examination were analysed to produce a quantitative output on the number of spirochaetes present and hence, the extent of colonization. The liver and spleen were colonized, and novel histopathology was observed in these tissues. The infection model we report here has potential use in studies to improve our understanding of the mechanisms by which Brachyspira elicit disease in poultry and in testing novel intervention strategies.

17 citations


Additional excerpts

  • ...CPSp1 had little effect on chicken weight in previous experimental infection studies (Stephens & Hampson, 2002a, b; Jamshidi & Hampson, 2003)....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: DNA-DNA relative reassociation experiments in which the S1 nuclease method was used revealed that intestinal spirochete strain P43/6/78T was related to, but was genetically distinct from, both S. hyodysenteriae B78T and S. innocens B256T, and it is proposed that strain P 43/ 6/78 should be designated as the type strain of a new species, Serpulina pilosicoli.
Abstract: Phenotypic and genetic traits of porcine intestinal spirochete strain P43/6/78T (= ATCC 51139T) (T = type strain), which is pathogenic and weakly beta-hemolytic, were determined in order to confirm the taxonomic position of this organism and its relationships to previously described species of intestinal spirochetes. In BHIS broth, P43/6/78T cells had a doubling time of 1 to 2 h and grew to a maximum cell density of 2 x 109 cells per ml at 37 to 42°C. They hydrolyzed hippurate, utilized D-glucose, D-fructose, sucrose, D-trehalose, D-galactose, D-mannose, maltose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, D-glucosamine, pyruvate, L-fucose, D-cellobiose, and D-ribose as growth substrates, and produced acetate, butyrate, ethanol, H2, and CO2 as metabolic products. They consumed substrate amounts of oxygen and had a G+C content (24.6 mol%) similar to that of Serpulina hyodysenteriae B78T (25.9 mol%). Phenotypic traits that could be used to distinguish strain P43/6/78T from S. hyodysenteriae and Serpulina innocens included its ultrastructural appearance (each strain P43/6/78T cell had 8 or 10 periplasmic flagella, with 4 or 5 flagella inserted at each end, and the cells were thinner and shorter and had more pointed ends than S. hyodysenteriae and S. innocens cells), its faster growth rate in liquid media, its hydrolysis of hippurate, its lack of β-glucosidase activity, and its metabolism of D-ribose. DNA-DNA relative reassociation experiments in which the S1 nuclease method was used revealed that P43/6/78T was related to, but was genetically distinct from, both S. hyodysenteriae B78T (level of sequence homology, 25 to 32%) and S. innocens B256T (level of sequence homology, 24 to 25%). These and previous results indicate that intestinal spirochete strain P43/6/78T represents a distinct Serpulina species. Therefore, we propose that strain P43/6/78 should be designated as the type strain of a new species, Serpulina pilosicoli.

236 citations


"Experimental infection of layer hen..." refers background in this paper

  • ...In pigs, B. pilosicoli causes porcine intestinal spirochaetosis, a common and widespread colonic infection of weaner and grower pigs, associated with loose faeces and poor growth rates (Trott et al., 1996b; Thomson et al., 1997)....

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  • ...The anaerobic intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira pilosicoli has been isolated from the large intestine or faeces of many animal species, including pigs (Trott et al., 1996b), chickens (Stephens & Hampson, 2001), dogs (Duhamel et al., 1998) and water birds (Oxberry et al., 1998)....

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  • ...…is experimental evidence that B. pilosicoli can be transmitted between animal species, and human strains of B. pilosicoli have been used to experimentally infect pigs (Trott et al., 1996a), mice (Sacco et al., 1997) and day-old chicks (Dwars et al., 1992; Trott et al., 1995; Muniappa et al., 1996)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
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 layer hen..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...The strain was thawed and grown in Kunkle’s anaerobic broth medium (Kunkle et al., 1986) at 37 8C on a rocking platform until early exponential-phase growth was achieved, when the spirochaetes were actively motile....

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Journal ArticleDOI
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 layer hen..." refers background in this paper

  • ...pilosicoli has been shown to colonize around 30 % of individuals, whilst in developed countries it occurs at around this prevalence in rural Aboriginal people in Australia (Lee & Hampson, 1992), in male homosexuals (Trivett-Moore et al., 1998) and in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Käsbohrer et al....

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  • ...…around 30 % of individuals, whilst in developed countries it occurs at around this prevalence in rural Aboriginal people in Australia (Lee & Hampson, 1992), in male homosexuals (Trivett-Moore et al., 1998) and in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Käsbohrer et al., 1990)....

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Journal ArticleDOI

121 citations


"Experimental infection of layer hen..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...The swabs were inoculated onto Trypticase soy agar (BBL) supplemented with 5 % defibrinated ovine blood, 400 g spectinomycin ml 1 and 25 g ml 1 each of colistin and vancomycin (Jenkinson & Wingar, 1981)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The role of S. pilosicoli in the etiology of PIS is confirmed and evidence that S. Pilosicol strains of human origin have pathogenic potential in an animal model is provided.
Abstract: Cultures of Serpulina pilosicoli 95/1000, isolated from a pig with porcine intestinal spirochetosis (PIS), and S. pilosicoli WesB, isolated from an Aboriginal child with diarrhea, were used to infect 5-week-old newly weaned pigs. Four of 12 pigs infected with strain 95/1000 and 2 of 12 pigs infected with strain WesB became colonized and developed watery, mucoid diarrhea within 2 to 11 days postinfection. Affected pigs all had moderate subacute mucosal colitis, with gross and histological changes similar to those previously reported in both natural and experimentally induced cases of PIS. Silver-stained histological sections of the colon and cecum from affected pigs demonstrated spirochetes within dilated intestinal crypts, where they were associated with neutrophilic exocytosis and mucus secretion. Sections from one pig infected with strain 95/1000 showed large numbers of spirochetes attached by one end to the colonic epithelium, a feature consistent with PIS. This study confirms the role of S. pilosicoli in the etiology of PIS and provides evidence that S. pilosicoli strains of human origin have pathogenic potential in an animal model.

100 citations


"Experimental infection of layer hen..." refers background in this paper

  • ...In pigs, B. pilosicoli causes porcine intestinal spirochaetosis, a common and widespread colonic infection of weaner and grower pigs, associated with loose faeces and poor growth rates (Trott et al., 1996b; Thomson et al., 1997)....

    [...]

  • ...The anaerobic intestinal spirochaete Brachyspira pilosicoli has been isolated from the large intestine or faeces of many animal species, including pigs (Trott et al., 1996b), chickens (Stephens & Hampson, 2001), dogs (Duhamel et al., 1998) and water birds (Oxberry et al., 1998)....

    [...]

  • ...…is experimental evidence that B. pilosicoli can be transmitted between animal species, and human strains of B. pilosicoli have been used to experimentally infect pigs (Trott et al., 1996a), mice (Sacco et al., 1997) and day-old chicks (Dwars et al., 1992; Trott et al., 1995; Muniappa et al., 1996)....

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