“Brachyspira hampsonii” clade I isolated from Belgian pigs imported to Germany

This report describes the detection of “Brachyspira (B.) hampsonii” clade I in Belgian pigs imported to Germany. Two of seventeen pigs from one herd were reported positive for Brachyspira hyodysenteriae by culture in a Belgian diagnostic laboratory, but negative for this Brachyspira species by specific PCR. In this study, from 22 fecal samples and 2 colon contents of these animals various Brachyspira species were cultured and identified by nox-RFLP as Brachyspira murdochii, Brachyspira innocens and Brachyspira intermedia. Albeit the six B. intermedia isolates proved to be negative in a species specific PCR. Sequencing of the nox-gene of three of these isolates revealed that the sequences were 99% identical to published sequences of “B. hampsonii” clade I. From one pig which was positive for “B. hampsonii” clade I histopathology was done and showed moderate lesions consistent with brachyspiral disease.