The Etiology of Swine Dysentery

Abstract

A disease resembling swine dysentery occurred in gnotobiotic piglets previously colonized with Escherichia coli and given a mixture of five enteric anaerobes and spirochete B-78, orally. No disease occurred in germ-free piglets exposed to four Gram-negative obligate anaerobes or to the spirochete; however, if the four respective anaerobes were introduced into gnotobiotic pigs previously colonized with the spirochete, or when the spirochete was introduced into gnotobiotic pigs colonized with the anaerobes, a disease occurred that simulated swine dysentery. Swine dysentery is probably caused by the specific interaction of one or more enteric Gram-negative obligate anaerobes and a spirochete.