Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.
BMC Vet Res. 2024 Apr 4;20(1):136. doi: 10.1186/s12917-024-03989-x.
Brachyspira (B.) pilosicoli is a zoonotic pathogen, able to infect different animal species such as pigs, poultry, and rodents, causing intestinal spirochetosis. An association of gastrointestinal clinical signs, such as diarrhea, with the isolation of B. pilosicoli from fecal samples or rectal swabs has not been proven in dogs. Other Brachyspira species commonly isolated from dogs, such as "B. canis" and "B. pulli", are considered commensals. This study investigated the occurrence of different Brachyspira species in rectal swabs and fecal samples in an independent canine cohort in central Germany. These included samples from shelter dogs, hunting dogs, and dogs presenting at regional small animal practices with various clinical signs. Data about the dogs, including potential risk factors for Brachyspira isolation, were obtained using a standardized questionnaire. The study also longitudinally investigated a colony of Beagle dogs for Brachyspira over 5 years.
The rate of Brachyspira spp. isolation was 11% and included different Brachyspira species ("B. canis", "B. pulli", and B. pilosicoli). "B. canis" was detected in 18 dogs, whereas B. pilosicoli was only isolated from 1 dog in the independent cohort (not including the Beagle colony). Risk factors for shedding Brachyspira and "B. canis" were being less than 1 year of age and shelter origin. Gastrointestinal signs were not associated with the shedding of Brachyspira. B. pilosicoli and "B. canis" were isolated from several dogs of the same Beagle colony in 2017 and again in 2022, while Brachyspira was not isolated at multiple sampling time points in 2021.
Shedding of B. pilosicoli in dogs appears to be uncommon in central Germany, suggesting a low risk of zoonotic transmission from dogs. Commensal status of "B. canis" and "B. pulli" is supported by the results of this study. Findings from the longitudinal investigation of the Beagle colony agree with an asymptomatic long-term colonization of dogs with "B. canis" and B. pilosicoli and suggest that introducing new animals in a pack can trigger an increased shedding of B. pilosicoli.
短螺旋体（B.）是一种人畜共患病病原体，能够感染猪、家禽和啮齿动物等不同动物物种，引起肠道螺旋体病。胃肠道临床症状（如腹泻）与粪便样本或直肠拭子中 B. pilosicoli 的分离尚未在狗中得到证实。其他在狗中常见的短螺旋体物种，如“B. canis”和“B. pulli”，被认为是共生菌。本研究调查了德国中部一个独立犬科队列中直肠拭子和粪便样本中不同短螺旋体物种的发生情况。这些样本包括收容所狗、猎犬和在区域小动物诊所就诊的具有各种临床症状的狗。使用标准化问卷获得有关狗的信息，包括分离短螺旋体的潜在危险因素。该研究还对一组比格犬进行了长达 5 年的短螺旋体纵向研究。
短螺旋体 spp.的分离率为 11%，包括不同的短螺旋体物种（“B. canis”、“B. pulli”和 B. pilosicoli）。18 只狗中检测到“B. canis”，而独立队列（不包括比格犬群）中仅从 1 只狗中分离出 B. pilosicoli。脱落短螺旋体和“B. canis”的危险因素是年龄小于 1 岁和收容所来源。胃肠道症状与短螺旋体的脱落无关。2017 年和 2022 年从同一比格犬群的几只狗中分离出 B. pilosicoli 和“B. canis”，而 2021 年在多个采样时间点未分离出短螺旋体。
在德国中部，狗中 B. pilosicoli 的脱落似乎很少见，表明从狗传播给人类的风险较低。本研究结果支持“B. canis”和“B. pulli”的共生状态。比格犬群纵向研究的结果一致表明，狗长期无症状定植“B. canis”和 B. pilosicoli，并且表明在一个群体中引入新动物会增加 B. pilosicoli 的脱落。
