Identification of Treponema Hyodysenteriae and Treponema Innocens using Two Four-Hour Identification Systems

Abstract

Two 4-hour identification systems, the RapID-ANAII (Innovative Diagnostic Systems) and the ANI card (Vitek Systems), were used to identify isolates of Treponema hyodysenteriae and T. innocens. Twentyone isolates of T. innocens and 53 isolates of T. hyodysenteriae were tested with both systems. With the ANI system, alpha-galactosidase was the only test that differentiated the two species. With the RapID-ANAII system, alpha-galactosidase and indole tests allowed differentiation of the two species. Treponema hyodysenteriae was alpha-galactosidase negative and indole positive, whereas T. innocens produces the opposite reactions. Three isolates were alpha-galactosidase negative and indole negative. These isolates represent a group intermediate between the two officially described species. The two species of swine Treponema can be identified by commercial identification kits and a third group of isolates intermediate between the two species was identified.