Isolation of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae from a crow (Corvus corone) in close proximity to commercial pigs

F Zeeh; S Klausmann; Y Masserey; H Nathues; V Perreten; J Rohde

doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.05.002

Isolation of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae from a crow (Corvus corone) in close proximity to commercial pigs

Vet J. 2018 Jun:236:111-112. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.05.002. Epub 2018 May 4.

Authors

F Zeeh¹, S Klausmann², Y Masserey², H Nathues³, V Perreten⁴, J Rohde⁵

Affiliations

¹ Clinic for Swine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, PB 3350, 3001 Bern, Switzerland. Electronic address: [email protected].
² SUISAG, Pig Health Service, Allmend 8, 6204 Sempach, Switzerland.
³ Clinic for Swine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bremgartenstrasse 109a, PB 3350, 3001 Bern, Switzerland.
⁴ Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Länggassstrasse 122, 3012 Bern, Switzerland.
⁵ Institute for Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.

PMID: 29871743
DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2018.05.002

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine whether crows (Corvus corone) can harbour Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, the cause of swine dysentery, and whether the organism carried by crows is related to strains infecting pigs. B. hyodysenteriae was isolated from one crow in close proximity to two pig farms in Switzerland. This isolate, along with five isolates of B. hyodysenteriae from one of the farms, belonged to sequence type (ST) 66 using multilocus sequence typing. This finding suggests that crows are potential vectors of B. hyodysenteriae, but further studies will be necessary to clarify the role of crows in the epidemiology of this organism.

Keywords: Brachyspira hyodysenteriae; Corvidae; Multilocus sequence typing; Swine dysentery; Vector.

MeSH terms

Animals
Bird Diseases / microbiology
Bird Diseases / transmission*
Brachyspira
Brachyspira hyodysenteriae / isolation & purification*
Crows*
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / microbiology
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / transmission
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / veterinary*
Swine
Swine Diseases / microbiology*
Swine Diseases / transmission
Switzerland