This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Rutter, J M Articles by Beer, R J Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Rutter, J M Articles by Beer, R J

Synergism between Trichuris suis and the microbial flora of the large intestine causing dysentery in pigs.

ABSTRACT

The role of the microbial flora of the large intestine in experimental Trichuris suis infection was studied by comparing the clinical syndrome in conventionally reared (CR) pigs, specific pathogen-free pigs, and gnotobiotic pigs. Thedisease in CR pigs was characterized by a severe mucohemorrhagic enteritis; in contrast, a mild catarrhal enteritis was observed in specific pathogen-free and gnotobiotic pigs.Spirochaetes and vibrio-like organisms were observed only in CR pigs and increased during the clinical phase of the disease. The clinical syndrome was not transmitted by oral administration of intestinal or fecal material from infected CR pigs to CR pigs free of T. suis. Smaller numbers of T. suis produced diarrhea in CR pigs and significantly reduced the growth rates of infected animals; clinical signs and the reduction in growth rate was prevented by incorporating an antibacterial substance (dimetridazole) in the food. Although clinical trichuriasis closely resembles swin dysentery, the two syndromes seem to be distinct. The present results suggest that a microbial component acts synergistically with T. suis to produce the severe clinical syndrome in CR pigs, but identification of the microbial component and the mechanism by which clinical signs are produced await further studies of the bacterial flora of the large intestine of pigs.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Duarte, R., Silva, A. M., Vieira, L. Q., Afonso, L. C. C., Nicoli, J. R. (2004). Influence of normal microbiota on some aspects of the immune response during experimental infection with Trypanosoma cruzi in mice. J Med Microbiol 53: 741-748 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• MANSFIELD, L. S., GAUTHIER, D. T., ABNER, S. R., JONES, K. M., WILDER, S. R., URBAN, J. F. (2003). ENHANCEMENT OF DISEASE AND PATHOLOGY BY SYNERGY OF TRICHURIS SUIS AND CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI IN THE COLON OF IMMUNOLOGICALLY NAIVE SWINE. Am J Trop Med Hyg 68: 0-0 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• MANSFIELD, L. S., GAUTHIER, D. T., ABNER, S. R., JONES, K. M., WILDER, S. R., URBAN, J. F. (2003). ENHANCEMENT OF DISEASE AND PATHOLOGY BY SYNERGY OF TRICHURIS SUIS AND CAMPYLOBACTER JEJUNI IN THE COLON OF IMMUNOLOGICALLY NAIVE SWINE. Am J Trop Med Hyg 68: 70-80 [Abstract] [Full Text]