Diagnostic examinations of Brachyspira species and therapeutic strategy inswine dysentery.

The infectious agent of swine dysentery, Brachyspira (Br.) hyodysenteriae, seems to be widespread in German pig herds. Due to different reasons the er adication is increasingly difficult. Not only the success of therapeutic pr ocedures but also the possibilities of diagnostics are unsatisfactory. Alth ough only the bacteriological investigation of faeces or intestinal probes by culture techniques allows the typing of Brachyspira strains and the test ing of drug resistance, however, the rate of false negative results is rela tively high. In comparison with the cultural method an easy, prompt and che ap immunofluorescent test (IFT) resulted in a good sensitivity (90 %). The higher rate of negative results by culture techniques can not be attributed to a lower specificity of the IFT, but to an insufficient transport of sam ples to the laboratory. The IFT therefore has to be considered as a valuabl e supplement to the cultural diagnostic of Dr. hyodysenteriae. It is absolutely necessary to establish strategies in eradication of swine dysentery which result in pig breeding herds free of Dr. hyodysenteriae. On ly weaner pigs which are reliable free of this germ guarantee a fattening p eriod sufficiently free of swine dysentery. The principles of different mea sures in effective eradication are described.