[Etiology of porcine dysentery]

The etiological agent of swine dysentery is an anaerobic spiralshaped microorganism of the Treponema genus. Examination of a scraping from the mucous membrane of the large intestine or the examination of faeces in a native preparation by phase contrast are the fastest diagnostical methods of determining swine dysentery. Large treponemas, as predominating microflora, 6--9 micrometer long, 0.3--0.4 micrometer in diameter, spiralshaped and moving in a serpentine way are found in faeces and the mucous membrane in the case of acute swine dysentery. These large treponemas were identified in 14% of clinically healthy pigs but in very small numbers. Treponemas are sensitive to their habitat. Treponemas survive for up to five days only in faeces which are suitably reduced. This finding is important both for subduing the infection and for diagnosis.