Summary auto-generated
Researchers identified and characterized a new anaerobic spirochete bacterium, strain C1T, isolated from a chicken with diarrhea. Using multilocus enzyme electrophoresis, 16S rRNA sequence analysis, and DNA-DNA hybridization studies, they determined this spirochete represents a novel Serpulina species, designated Serpulina alvinipulli. The organism measures 8-11 by 0.22-0.34 micrometers with 22-30 flagella per cell and forms weakly hemolytic colonies on blood agar. It is a carbohydrate-fermenting anaerobe that grows optimally at 39-42°C with a doubling time of 2-4 hours in brain heart infusion broth supplemented with calf serum. S. alvinipulli ferments glucose, fructose, mannose, maltose, and glucosamine, producing acetate, butyrate, ethanol, hydrogen gas, and carbon dioxide as metabolic end products. DNA relatedness studies showed only 24-39% homology with other Serpulina species, confirming its status as a distinct species. The bacterium is enteropathogenic, colonizing the caeca and inducing diarrhea in experimentally inoculated chickens. The type strain C1T has been deposited with the American Type Culture Collection under accession number ATCC 51933T.
Key findings
- S. alvinipulli represents a novel Serpulina species that is pathogenic for chickens, causing intestinal disease and diarrhea when inoculated into birds
- DNA-DNA hybridization showed only 24-39% relatedness to other Serpulina species, confirming its status as a distinct species with 24.6 mol% G+C content
- The organism is an anaerobic spirochete measuring 8-11 by 0.22-0.34 micrometers with 22-30 periplasmic flagella and forms weakly hemolytic colonies on blood agar
- S. alvinipulli ferments specific carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, mannose, maltose, glucosamine) and produces acetate, butyrate, ethanol, H₂, and CO₂
- The bacterium is positive for hippurate hydrolysis and negative for indole production, distinguishing it from some related Serpulina species
This summary was generated automatically from the article PDF and is not part of the original publication. Refer to the PDF for the authoritative text.
Abstract
Strain C1Tis an anaerobic spirochaete that causes intestinal disease in chickens. Multilocus enzyme electrophoresis analysis and 16S rRNA sequence comparisons have indicated that this spirochaete is a Serpulina strain. In these investigations, various phenotypic and genomic properties useful for establishing a taxonomic identity for strain C1Twere studied. As determined by electron microscopy, cells of the spirochaete measured 8-11 x 0·22-0·34 µm and had a typical spirochaete ultrastructure. Each cell had 22–30 flagella. C1Tcells formed weakly β-haemolytic colonies on trypticase soy agar plates containing 5% bovine blood. The spirochaete reached maximum population densities of 109cells ml-1with a 2–4 h population doubling time in brain heart infusion broth containing 10% calf serum (BHIS broth). C1Tcultures in BHIS broth were positive in tests for hippurate hydrolysis and negative for indole production. Glucosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, glucose, fructose, maltose and mannose were growth substrates for the spirochaete in heart infusion broth containing 7% calf serum (HS broth). During growth in HS broth beneath an 02/N2 (1:99) atmosphere, cells of the spirochaete consumed 02 and glucose and produced H2, CO2, acetate, butyrate and ethanol. Strain C1TDNA had a G+C content of 24·6 mol%. Based on DNA-DNA hybridization analyses, the DNA of strain C1Texhibited 24–39% relative reassociation with DNA of Serpulina hyodysenteriae, Serpulina innocens, Serpulina pilosicoli, Serpulina murdochii and Serpulina intermedia. These results indicate that chicken spirochaete strain C1Thas many phenotypic properties common to Serpulina species and, based on DNA hybridization analysis, represents a unique Serpulina species. For this new species the name Serpulina alvinipulli is proposed, for which the type strain is C1T(= ATCC 51933T).