Variation amongst human isolates of Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli based on biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequencing

Smet, K. A. L. De; Worth, D. E.; Barrett, Stephen

doi:10.1099/00207713-48-4-1257

Cited by 14 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…All isolates are negative for ␤-glucosidase and most are positive for hippurate hydrolysis. The activity of ␣-glucosidase, ␣-galactosidase and the production of indole vary among different strains [17,18]. PCR using specific primers for the 16 S rRNA of the organism is available in research laboratories for genetic characterization [18,19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli Spirochetemia in an Immunocompromised Patient

et al. 2002

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The case of an elderly immunocompromised man with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma who presented with fever, abdominal pain and bloody diarrhea is described. Brachyspira pilosicoli was isolated from culture. The patient was treated with penicillin G i.v. and became afebrile. B. pilosicoli is a recently recognized enteric pathogen of humans and animals. Intestinal spirochetosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of any immunocompromised or critically ill patient with dysentery.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli Spirochetemia in an Immunocompromised Patient

et al. 2002

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, it seems that human intestinal spirochetes can be separated into at least two groups: a heterogeneous group closely related to or indistinguishable from B. pilosicoli and a second group consisting of the type strain of B. aalborgi (13,20).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recently, the phylogeny of intestinal spirochetes has been studied by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (20,21), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (7), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (6,29), and 16S rRNA gene sequencing (13); these studies have revealed considerable heterogeneity among human isolates. However, it seems that human intestinal spirochetes can be separated into at least two groups: a heterogeneous group closely related to or indistinguishable from B. pilosicoli and a second group consisting of the type strain of B. aalborgi (13,20).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Diagnostic Examination of Human Intestinal Spirochetosis by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization for Brachyspira aalborgi , Brachyspira pilosicoli , and Other Species of the Genus Brachyspira ( Serpulina )

Jensen¹,

Boye²,

Ahrens³

et al. 2001

J Clin Microbiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Human intestinal spirochetosis, characterized by end-on attachment of densely packed spirochetes to the epithelial surface of the large intestines as a fringe has been associated with the weakly beta-hemolytic spirochetes Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli. In this study, fluorescent in situ hybridization with oligonucleotide probes targeting 16S or 23S rRNA of B. aalborgi, B. pilosicoli, and the genus Brachyspira was applied to 40 sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded intestinal biopsy specimens from 23 Danish and 15 Norwegian patients with histologic evidence of intestinal spirochetosis. Five biopsy specimens from patients without intestinal spirochetosis and three samples from pigs with experimental B. pilosicoli colitis were examined as well. In addition, the 16S ribosomal DNAs of two clinical isolates of B. aalborgi were sequenced, and a PCR procedure was developed for the identification of B. aalborgi in cultures. The genotypic characteristics of the two clinical isolates showed very high (99.5%) similarity with two existing isolates, the type strain of B. aalborgi and a Swedish isolate. Hybridization with the Brachyspira genus-specific probe revealed a brightly fluorescing fringe of spirochetes on the epithelia of 39 biopsy specimens, whereas 1 biopsy specimen was hybridization negative. The spirochetes in biopsy specimens from 13 Danish and 8 Norwegian patients (55.3%) were identified as B. aalborgi. The spirochetes in the biopsy specimens from the other 17 patients hybridized only with the Brachyspira probe, possibly demonstrating the involvement of as-yet-uncharacterized Brachyspira spirochetes in human intestinal spirochetosis.Human intestinal spirochetosis (HIS) is a condition of the large intestinal mucosa microscopically characterized by colonization and extensive end-on attachment of densely packed spirochetes to the epithelial surface (16). The spirochetes are easily demonstrated in hematoxylin-eosin-stained biopsy sections as a diffuse blue fringe 3 to 6 m thick. The colonization is usually associated with no or only minor morphologic and inflammatory reactions in the mucosa (16,17,23,36). Ultrastructurally, spirochetes are attached perpendicular to the epithelial membrane between the microvilli, which appear shorter or depleted (11,17,23,36). However, more severe lesions with spirochetal invasion of the epithelium and the adjacent lamina propria together with purulent discharge may occur (15,27,30,42). HIS is a morphological description based on microscopic examination of biopsy samples. Hence, most reports have outlined histologic and electron microscopic findings, whereas there have been only a few reports of concurrent culturing of spirochetes from the same individuals (11,15,17,36), and two species, Brachyspira aalborgi and Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli, have been identified (17,36).Recently, the phylogeny of intestinal spirochetes has been studied by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis (20, 21), polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (7), pulsed-field gel el...

show abstract

“…Eight of these nucleotides were located within a 295-bp sequence of 16S rDNA, which is known to have one hippurate-positive and one hippurate-negative B. pilosicoli isolate in humans (accession no. Y10314 [5]). However, none of the unique nucleotides seen here were present in the human isolates.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular and Ultrastructural Characterization of Porcine Hippurate-Negative Brachyspira pilosicoli

et al. 2004

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Brachyspira pilosicoli, the causative agent of porcine intestinal spirochetosis, usually has hippurate-cleaving capacity. We have regularly isolated hippurate-negative B. pilosicoli from cases of porcine diarrhea. In this study, we show that these biochemically atypical B. pilosicoli isolates can be classified as B. pilosicoli. 16S ribosomal DNA was partially sequenced from eight hippurate-negative and two hippurate-positive B. pilosicoli-like isolates from seven herds. The differences in nucleotide sequence with B. pilosicoli P43/6/78 type strain were not associated with hippurate cleavage. In 877 bp, the hippurate-negative isolates had a similarity of 98.63 to 100% to the type strain, with the corresponding figures for the two hippurate-positive isolates being 98.86 and 100%. The nucleotide sequences of hippurate-positive isolates were identical to the respective sequences of hippuratenegative isolates from one herd. The DNA macrorestriction patterns of a total of 20 hippurate-negative and -positive B. pilosicoli isolates were diverse, and no clustering in conjunction with the hippurate reaction was found. In two herds, hippurate-positive and -negative B. pilosicoli isolates had a common macrorestriction pattern. The ultrastructure of hippurate-negative isolates was similar to the type strain. In conclusion, B. pilosicoli can be either hippurate positive or negative and, thus, the scheme for biochemical differentiation of porcine Brachyspira should be revised to include identification of hippurate-negative B. pilosicoli.

show abstract

Variation amongst human isolates of Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli based on biochemical characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequencing

Cited by 14 publications

References 20 publications

Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli Spirochetemia in an Immunocompromised Patient

Brachyspira (Serpulina) pilosicoli Spirochetemia in an Immunocompromised Patient

Diagnostic Examination of Human Intestinal Spirochetosis by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization for Brachyspira aalborgi , Brachyspira pilosicoli , and Other Species of the Genus Brachyspira ( Serpulina )

Molecular and Ultrastructural Characterization of Porcine Hippurate-Negative Brachyspira pilosicoli

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About