Isolation and characterisation of intestinal spirochaetes.

Abstract

and the *Bacteriology Laboratory, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford SUMMARY Faeces or rectal swabs from 1527 subjects were examined for the presence of intestinal spirochaetes by anaerobic culture on blood agar incorporating spectinomycin (400 mg/l). Twenty three specimens (1-5%) were positive, and only one of these came from a patient with diarrhoea. All positive specimens came from either Asians or known homosexuals. Comparative tests showed a close phenotypic similarity between the human isolates and non-pathogenic porcine intestinal spirochaetes. These organisms differ from Brachyspira aalborgi, a spirochaete isolated from subjects with histologically confirmed intestinal spirochaetosis.Organisms similar to spirochaetes were first observed in faeces, using the light microscope, towards the end of the last century.' Associations were noted with cholera, dysentery, and other intestinal conditions, but later studies described the presence of spirochaetes in the faeces of normal healthy subjects, and similar organisms were found in the intestinal tracts of various animal species.2 A wide variation was noted in the incidence of spiral organisms in specimens collected in different geographical areas.2 4 Further interest was stimulated by the advent of electron microscopy. True spirochaetes with axial fibrils were shown in the intestinal tracts of man and animals.5

The prevalence of Serpulina pilosicoli in humans and domestic animals in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea

“…However it must be mentioned that only approximately half of the people residing in each village were sampled, therefore estimates of the colonization rate are based upon individuals sampled rather than the total population. In agreement with previous studies, low rates of colonization were found in urbanized indigenous (9n3 %) and non-indigenous (0 %) individuals [14,26]. A similarity between the current study and the studies conducted in Oman and Australia was the comparatively low rate of colonization amongst children aged 2 years and under.…”

“…Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis has been used to show that human and animal strains of S. pilosicoli were genetically closely related, but did not share the same haplotype [6]. In previous studies, high rates of colonization ( 30 %) with S. pilosicoli have been found in subjects from developing countries [22], disadvantaged indigenous groups [14], AIDS patients [23], and homosexual males [6,24,25], whilst the organisms are rarely isolated from other individuals in Western communities [14,26].…”

Comparison of prevalence and risk factors for faecal carriage of the intestinal spirochaetes Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli in four Australian populations

“…Prevalence rates for B. pilosicoli in the faeces of these populations vary from y10 to 50%. It is rarely identified in other populations [12,15]. B. pilosicoli also colonizes many animal species, and is a well-recognized pathogen of pigs and poultry [16,17].…”

Colonization and risk factors for Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira pilosicoli in humans and dogs on tea estates in Assam, India

“…It has been shown to colonize approximately 30 % of individuals in developing countries including Oman [8] and Papua New Guinea [9], and, in developed countries, occurs at a similarly high prevalence in Aboriginal people in Australia [10], male homosexuals [3] and patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) [11]. By comparison, it is uncommon in the faeces of the general population in developed countries [10,12,13]. It is also regularly found in the large intestines of a variety of animal species including pigs [2], chickens [14], water birds [15], and dogs [16].…”