[The treatment of Eubacterium suis infections in boars]

The main habitat of Eubacterium suis (E. suis) is the preputial diverticulum of male pigs. E. suis can be transmitted from boars to sows at the time of mating, and ascending urinary tract infections (cystitis and pyelonephritis) in sows may develop. In this paper different methods of treatment were investigated to eliminate E. suis from the diverticulum of carrier boars (n = 33). Local therapy and feed medication were administered separately or in combination. For local instillation into the preputial sac penicillin, penicillin/streptomycin or enrofloxacin were used, while medicated feed contained enrofloxacin. None of the treatments resulted in boars, which were persistently free from E. suis. Also additional hygiene measures as washing of boars and disinfection of pens could not improve the results. At the latest 18 days after treatment E. suis could be detected again in the preputial diverticulum of all boars. Short duration of action of antibiotics in the preputial sac as well as re-colonisation of the diverticulum by contaminated pens are discussed. In herds in which urinary tract infections are troublesome it is worthwhile using artificial insemination to prevent transmission of E. suis to the sow. Treatment of unspecific urinary tract infections in sows may be also important, because alterations of bladder mucosa due to other bacteria may support the colonisation of E. suis.