Borrelia anserina

Borrelia anserina is a helical filiform spirochete bacteria with dimensions of approximately 8-20/0,2-0,3 µm and with about 5 to 8 spirals. Their mobility is very high. B. anserina can be colored with the May Grunwald-Giemsa method.

Cultivation
In Microbiological laboratories, B. anserina bacteria can be grown on special protein enriched mediums (rich in ovoalbumins or animal tissue (that countains Myoglobin)), in anaerobic conditions. They can also be grown in embrionated chicken eggs. The laboratory cultivation of B. anserina is rarely done and constitutes a diagnostic method in bird borreliosis and spirochetosis.

Pathogenity
B. anserina is a pathogenic agent for birds (chickens, turkeys, ducks etc.) and causes a disease called borreliosis or spirochetosis. This bacteria is transmitted from bird to bird by ticks from the Argas and Ornitodorus genus. The major symptoms of an infection with B. anserina are: anemia, diarrhea and severe neurological disfunctions.