Induction of swine dysentery with a pure culture of Treponema hyodysenteriae in vitamin E and selenium deficient pigs.

Several successful attempts have been made to induce swine dysentery in pigs using pure cultures of Treponema hyodysen-teriae 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975). In these studies, either conventional or specific-pathogen-free pigs were used. In the present study, 2 approximately 8 weeks old conventional pigs (Nos. 1 and 2) were purchased and fed the same basic ration as used by (1977). In addition, 10 % cod liver oil was incorporated in the diet at each feeding. After a feeding period of 25 days rectal swabs were applied and examined for the presence of spirochaetes. The pigs were then fed a 3 days old primary and pure culture of T. hyodysenteriae on TSA-S400 medium 1976). The culture originated from the colon of a pig with swine dysentery (Pig No. 4, 1977). Each pig received the agar contents of 5 petri dishes which were mixed with the food.