INTESTINAL SPIROCHETE INFESTATION IN THE OPOSSUM

A spirochete capable of colonizing substantial areas of cecal mucosa was observed in a group of five normal opossums. The type of intestinal infestation with disruption of the brush border was similar to that recently observed in primates and dogs. From each of the opossums examined, a spirochete was isolated which outwardly resembled both the large intestinal spirochete of swine dysentery and one found in dogs. The opossum spirochete, however, could be readily differentiated from the latter two agents on the basis of its ultrastructure. © 1979, Springer-Verlag New York, Inc. All rights reserved.