Porcine Colonic Spirochaetosis (PCS) caused by Brachyspira pilosicoli
Colitis is a milder form of diarrhoea, affecting the large intestine, causing a soft diarrhoea which may be mixed with mucus but rarely blood. The clinical signs are non-specific and the disease depresses growth and FCE by 5-10%.
Background
The causal agent is Brachyspira pilosicoli.
B. pilosicoli colonizes the porcine large intestine and induces Colitis, typhlocolitis and “wet cement” to watery mucoid diarrhoea without blood.
Colitis is a non-fatal often subclinical infection of weaned pigs (8 to 16 weeks) with significant economic impact on productivity.
Colitis is endemic in all major swine producing areas.
Economic losses based on reduced feed efficiency and increased number of days required to reach market weight.
