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Pathological observation on experimental swine dysentery.
National Institute of Animal Health Quarterly
|January 1, 1979
Summary
Swine dysentery, caused by Treponema hyodysenteriae, primarily affects the colon, cecum, and rectum. Lesion severity correlates with bacterial quantity, ranging from mild to severe hemorrhagic colitis.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Pathology
- Microbiology
- Swine Diseases
Background:
- Swine dysentery is an economically significant enteric disease in pigs.
- Treponema hyodysenteriae is the primary causative agent.
- Understanding the pathological distribution and host-pathogen interactions is crucial for disease control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To pathologically characterize experimental swine dysentery.
- To determine the distribution and quantity of Treponema hyodysenteriae in affected swine.
- To correlate bacterial load with histopathological lesion severity.
Main Methods:
- Infection of swine with four cultured strains of Treponema hyodysenteriae.
- Warthin-Starry staining for treponeme visualization in tissue sections.
- Histopathological examination of the large intestine.
- Electron microscopy for ultrastructural analysis of treponemes and host cells.
Main Results:
- Treponema hyodysenteriae predominantly colonized the colon, cecum, and rectum.
- Histopathological lesions ranged from catarrhal to desquamative, hemorrhagic colitis.
- Lesion severity was directly associated with treponeme quantity.
- Treponemes were observed in the intestinal lumen, crypts, goblet cells, and within desquamated epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
- The colon, cecum, and rectum are key sites for Treponema hyodysenteriae proliferation and associated pathology.
- Bacterial load is a critical determinant of swine dysentery severity.
- Treponemes interact with intestinal epithelial cells, including goblet cells, contributing to mucosal damage.