Gerald E. Duhamel, Nagaraja Muniappa, Michelle R. Mathiesen
Summary and Implications
We reported on a new species of intestinal spirochetal bacteria, Serpulina pilosicoli, associated with a diarrheal disease of grower-finisher swine, called porcine colonic spirochetosis (PCS). In this report we show that Serpulina pilosicoli, associated with outbreaks of PCS in the United States, attached to the cecal surface of chicks while Serpulina innocens, a non-pathogenic intestinal spirochete, did not. These findings support a role for Serpulina pilosicoli as a cause of diarrhea and reduced feed efficiency in swine.