Brachyspira (Serpulina) Lawsonia Treponema

Question 1

What family does Brachyspira belong to?

Answer 1

Family Spirochaetaceae

Question 2

Brachyspira Gram__? Shape?

Answer 2

Gram negative Spiral shaped

Question 3

Brachyspira Aerobe/Non-aerobe?

Answer 3

Oxygen-tolerate Obligate anaerobes

Question 4

Brachyspira Where do they typically colonize?

Answer 4

Large Intestine

Question 5

Look at this chart on species variations

Answer 5

*Chart*

Question 6

Look at map of distribution

Answer 6

*Map* Said in class: North Carolina too

Question 7

Brachyspira - Pathogens in the genus

Answer 7

B. hyodysenteriae B. pilosicoli B. aalborgi Controversial ones: B. intermedia (avian spirochetosis) B. murdochii, B. innocens, B. canis

Question 8

**Brachyspira hyodysenteriae**

Answer 8

Swine dysentary!! -Actively growin pigs (6-12wks) **Only strongly beta-hemolytic strain** **Indole Positive**

Question 9

Brachyspira pilosicoli

Answer 9

Colonic /Intestinal Spirochetosis -Pigs (post-wean), dogs, birds, immunocompromised humans

Question 10

Brachyspira aalborgi

Answer 10

Human spirochetosis (rare)

Question 11

Brachyspira- Virulence factors

Answer 11

Cell Wall Flagella

Question 12

Brachyspira - Cell Wall 2 virulence factors

Answer 12

LPS Hemolysin/ Cytotoxin

Question 13

Brachyspira - LPS

Answer 13

More like LOS, short/variable O-antigen repeats Endotoxin/Lipid A

Question 14

Brachyspira- Hemolysin/Cytotoxin

Answer 14

**B. Hyodysenteriae=strongly beta hemolytic** Pore-forming cytotoxin : goblet & colonial epithelial cell damage

Question 15

Brachyspira - Flagella

Answer 15

Necessary for virulence! -Move through intestinal mucus to access target cells

Question 16

Brachyspira- Reservoir

Answer 16

Can persist in environment for months if protected from desiccation

Question 17

Brachyspira Reservoir B. hyodysenteriae

Answer 17

**Asymptomatic carrier pigs** -Mice, shed for <6 months -Dogs, rats, birds

Question 18

Brachyspira Reservoir B pilosicoli

Answer 18

Isolated from dogs, birds, many mammals, humans Attach to intestinal mucosa is key to carriage

Question 19

Brachyspira - Transmission

Answer 19

All species - Fecal-Oral

Question 20

Brachyspira Pathogenesis

Answer 20

Colon colonized==> Inflammation, cytotoxins, PMNS==> Superficial coagulation necrosis with epithelial erosion in mucosa/submucosa -Edema, hyperemia, hemorrhages Failure of colonic absorption

Question 21

Brachyspira - Signs

Answer 21

Secretory diarrhea Grey to strawberry-colored feces Dehydration - acidotic & hyperkalemic High morbidity, 40% mortality Lasts several weeks Asymptomatic shedders difficult to ID

Question 22

Brachyspira Differentials

Answer 22

Salmonellosis Lawsonia intracellularis

Question 23

What is the likely causative agent of these signs in the pictures?

Answer 23

Brachyspira infection (Likely B. hyodysenteriae)

Question 24

What is this picture showing?

Answer 24

Avian intestinal spirochaetosis B. pilosicoli adhering to cecal surface epithelial cells

Question 25

Brachyspira - Immunology

Answer 25

Poorly understood -Recovered pigs resistant \<4 months

Question 26

Which antibodies fight against a Brachyspira infection?

Answer 26

IgG and IgA - but not highly protective

Question 27

Brachyspira - Bacterins

Answer 27

Reduce severity of the disease

Question 28

Brachyspira Samples

Answer 28

Fecal or colonic

Question 29

Brachyspira Problems with sample collection

Answer 29

Should be conducted quickly, not be allowed to dry

Question 30

Brachyspira Stained smears

Answer 30

Loosely coiled spirochetes -Must be differentiated from nonpathogenic species

Question 31

Brachyspira Isolation Selective medias used

Answer 31

Blood agar with several antibiotics: Spectinomycin Rifampin Spiramycin Vancomycin Polymixin Colistin

Question 32

Brachyspira Incubation

Answer 32

Anaerobic for several days

Question 33

Brachyspira - Hemolysis

Answer 33

Beta hemolysis (ring) Strength related to pathogenicity \*\*B. hyodysenteriae\*\*

Question 34

Brachyspira - Lab Dx

Answer 34

PCR (rule out Salmonella & Lawsonia) B hyodysenteriae are indole positive

Question 35

Brachyspira Treatment

Answer 35

Resistance! Several antibiotics Tiamulin, Valnemulin, tylosin, lincomycin, carbadox (restricted) MTZ for dogs

Question 36

Brachyspira Control - Avians

Answer 36

Difficult No approved treatments Long withdrawal times

Question 37

Lawsonia intracellularis Disease & specied affected

Answer 37

\*Proliferative Enteropathy\* Porcine Equine Rodents (& other mammals) Avians

Question 38

Lawsonia intracellularis Site of infection

Answer 38

Obligate intracellular pathogen of enterocytes (Apical cytoplasmic area - closest to lumen)

Question 39

Lawsonia intracellularis Distribution

Answer 39

Worldwide

Question 40

Lawsonia Virulence factors

Answer 40

LPS - typical Gram Negative T3SS - unknown role

Question 41

Lawsonia Reservoir

Answer 41

Intestinal tract and environment Possible rodents on horse & pig farms

Question 42

Lawsonia Transmission

Answer 42

Fecal-oral

Question 43

Lawsonia - What is required for disease to show?

Answer 43

Interaction with unknown natural flora -Experimental inoculation of germ-free swine does not lead to disease

Question 44

Lawsonia Pathogenesis

Answer 44

Microbes escape phagocytic vacuole--\> Multiply--\> Inhibit host cell maturation (but enterocyte division continues, daughter cells infected)

Question 45

Lawsonia - Site of infection

Answer 45

Distal jejunum and ileum

Question 46

Lawsonia - Effect at infection sie

Answer 46

Minimal to moderate inflammation -Neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes present

Question 47

Lawsonia - Type of immunoglobulin?

Answer 47

IgA - specific response

Question 48

Lawsonia - Lasting immunity?

Answer 48

Recovered pigs are resistant to infection

Question 49

Lawsonia - Vaccine?

Answer 49

Swine vaccine available, commonly used Oral. Live-attenuated

Question 50

Lawsonia Diagnosis

Answer 50

Stained smears of intestinal mucosa Histo: evidence of proliferative changes Immunohistochemical stains Isolation NOT feasible PCR

Question 51

Lawsonia Treatment

Answer 51

Tetracyclines Tylosin Tiamulin Lincomycin Carbadox (where available)

Question 52

Treponema Typical disease

Answer 52

Digital dermatitis of cattle Contagious ovine digital dermatitis

Question 53

Treponema paraluiscuniculi

Answer 53

Vent disease of rabbits, \*\*\*rabbit syphilis\*\*\*\* Not zoonotic Sexually transmitted (usually)