The porcine intestinal spirochaetes: identification of new genetic groups.

The weakly beta-haemolytic isolates were divided into 56 electrophoretic types (ETs), contained in three distinct genetic groups (A,B and C). Group A corresponded to the genus Serpulina, and could be divided into three divisions. It contained 17 weakly haemolytic isolates in divisions b and c, as well as all 98 isolates of S. hyodysenteriae, located in division a. All seven weakly beta-haemolytic isolates that produced indole and had alpha-glucosidase but not alpha-galactosidase activity fell into division b. These spirochaetes may represent a distinct species. The other ten weakly beta-haemolytic spirochaetes, in division c, fitted the description of S. innocens. Group B contained 17 of the weakly beta-haemolytic isolates (18.9%) in ten ETs. Isolates in this group differed from typical S. innocens in that they lacked alpha-galactosidase activity. Group B represented a distinct group of weekly beta-haemolytic spirochaetes, which may constitute a new genus. Group C contained 56 of the weakly beta-haemolytic isolates (62.2%) located in 29 ETs. The original isolate from "spirochaetal diarrhoea" (P43/6/78-Taylor et al., 1980) was located in this group, together with Australian isolates from a similar condition. Spirochaetes in group C were morphologically distinct from those in groups A and B in that they possessed only four, five or occasionally six, subterminal axial filaments, were more slender, and had more pointed ends to their cells. We consider that group C represents a new genus of spirochaetes, members of which may be associated with spirochaetal diarrhoea.