Gastrospirillum suis is a bacterial species that causes gastric diseases in swine. The name is derived from the Greek words Gastro meaning stomach, Spirillum meaning coiled, and Suis meaning pig. The phonetic transcription of Gastrospirillum suis is /ɡæstrəʊspaɪrɪləm sjuːiːs/. The pronunciation of Gastrospirillum is ga-strō-spə-ril-əm with the emphasis on the second syllable. The pronunciation of suis is swee, with the "s" being voiceless because it's at the end of the word. The spelling of this word follows the Latin binomial nomenclature commonly used in biology to name organisms.
Gastrospirillum suis is a Gram-negative, spiral-shaped bacterium that is part of the Helicobacteraceae family. It is primarily found in the stomachs of pigs and has been associated with gastric disease in these animals. The organism was first discovered in 1992 and since then has been the subject of research to understand its role in pig health.
The bacterium Gastrospirillum suis is characterized by its spiral or curved shape and its ability to colonize the gastric mucosa of pigs. It is a microaerophile, which means it requires low levels of oxygen to survive and grow. Its optimal growth conditions include a slightly acidic pH.
In terms of pathogenesis, Gastrospirillum suis has been implicated in gastric disease in pigs, including gastritis and gastric ulcers. Research suggests that the bacterium may cause tissue damage by adhering to and penetrating the gastric mucosa, leading to inflammation and subsequent lesions. The exact mechanisms of pathogenesis, however, are not fully understood and further research is needed.
The diagnosis of Gastrospirillum suis infection in pigs is typically achieved through histological examination, where the characteristic spiral-shaped bacteria can be identified in tissue samples. Treatment options for Gastrospirillum suis infections in pigs are limited, and currently there is no widely accepted antibiotic regimen for eradicating the bacterium.
Gastrospirillum suis is an important bacterium to study due to its association with gastric disease in pigs. Understanding its pathogenicity and mechanisms can contribute to the development of effective prevention and control strategies for this economically significant disease in the swine industry.
The word "Gastrospirillum suis" is a scientific name and its etymology can be broken down as follows:
1. Gastro-: It comes from the Greek word "gaster" (γαστήρ), which means "stomach" or "belly". In scientific terms, it refers to the stomach or gastric region.
2. Spirillum: This word is derived from the Latin term "spirilla", meaning "small coil". It refers to a genus of bacteria that are spiral-shaped and have a corkscrew-like structure.
3. Suis: This is the specific epithet added to signify the organism's relationship or association with pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). "Suis" is derived from the Latin word for "pig" or "swine".