Swine dysentery and Treponema hyodysenteriae
Liven, E.
Norsk Veterinaertidsskrift 89(1): 1-5
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0332-5741 Accession: 000520101
A synergic relationship between Treponema and other anaerobes (Bacteroides and Fusobacterium) seems to be the mechanism by which the disease develops in its early stages. Diagnosis may be effected by phase-contrast microscopy of faecal samples, the recommended culture medium being trypticase soya agar incubated in an anaerobic environment of 50% H2-50% CO2 at 37 deg C for 24-28 hours. The resistance of the organism to extremes of temperature (surviving 2-3 months at -20 deg C) and the ineffectiveness of conventional antibiotics in controlling its growth have presented serious problems in treating swine dysentery in Norway.