Oat cells in the pathology of ovine pneumonia-pleurisy

Light microscope observations on oat cells in the ovine pneumonia-pleurisy complex are presented. This study is based on the experimental production of the disease by viruses and Pasteurella haemolytica. Oat cells appeared only in necrotic lesions associated with large numbers of P. haemolytica in thi pneumonic lung. It is suggested that oat cells originate from blood monocytes, which transform into the oat shape when developing in the necrotic, hypoxic environment created by P. haemolytica. They were not, however, observed to be phagocytic. Oat cells are characteristic of pneumonic pasteurellosis but are not pathognomonic because they can also be found in extrapulmonary locations and in other pathological conditions of the lungs.     

Immunoperoxidase evaluation of the relationship between necrotic lesions and causative bacteria in lungs of calves with naturally acquired pneumonia

An immunoperoxidase technique was used to study the relationship between the necrotic lesions and causative bacteria found in lungs of 53 calves that had naturally acquired pneumonia. Four types of necrotic lesions were identified on the basis of morphologic characteristics as follows: type 1 had coagulation necrosis surrounded by a dense zone of numerous degenerated leukocytes; type 2 was similar to type 1, but the central area of the lesions was severely affected, had no alveolar architecture remaining, and was surrounded by a thin, sparse layer of degenerated leukocytes; type 3 had small swirling accumulation of degenerated leukocytes; and type 4 had necropurulent lesions resembling abscesses. By use of the immunoperoxidase technique, Pasteurella haemolytica serovar 1 antigen was confirmed to be associated with the necrotic lesions in many cases of type 1 and in some cases of types 2 and 3. Although some lesions were induced by other bacteria (Haemophilus somnus or Actinomyces pyogenes), the pneumonic lesions associated with P haemolytica could be differentiated from other pneumonic lesions in calves by use of the immunoperoxidase technique.     

Experimental pneumonia in conventionally reared and gnotobiotic calves by dual infection with Mycoplasma bovis and Pasteurella haemolytica

Mild clinical disease was produced in conventionally reared calves by the intranasal inoculation of 18-hour cultures of Pasteurella haemolytica simultaneously with Mycoplasma bovis; at necropsy seven days later moderate pneumonic consolidation was observed in two of four calves. Additional intratracheal injection of these organisms did not increase the severity of disease. In contrast, inoculation of six-hour cultures of P haemolytica with M bovis produced more severe disease and more extensive pneumonic consolidation. The most severe disease and greatest degree of pneumonic consolidation was induced by intranasal and intratracheal inoculation of six-hour cultures of P haemolytica one day after the intranasal inoculation of M bovis. Omitting the intranasal injection of P haemolytica reduced the severity and consolidation only slightly. Studies in gnotobiotic calves revealed that more severe disease and more extensive pneumonic consolidation resulted when M bovis was inoculated before P haemolytic rather than vice versa.     

Induction of immunity against pneumonic pasteurellosis following experimental infection in calves.

Immunity against pneumonic pasteurellosis was studied in calves after recovery from experimental respiratory disease with Pasteurella haemolytica. Nine calves were exposed to aerosols of parainfluenza-3 virus and Pasteurella haemolytica A1 six days apart to produce respiratory disease. After recovery from the disease, these nine principal and four control calves were challenged with aerosols of bovine herpesvirus 1 and P. haemolytica A1 four days apart. With this viral-bacterial challenge, the nine principal animals failed to develop clinical responses to this bacterial challenge and their lungs did not show the growth of P. haemolytica on cultures, whereas two of four control calves had elevated temperatures and developed necropurulent pneumonia with the isolation of P. haemolytica from the lungs. The principal calves had developed high levels of cytotoxin neutralizing antibodies in their sera following parainfluenza-3 virus-P. haemolytica infection. This demonstrated that immunity against pneumonic pasteurellosis can be achieved, with a suggestion that further search for an effective vaccine for P. haemolytica is warranted.     

Mannheimia haemolytica and the pathogenesis of enzootic bronchopneumonia

Mannheimia (M.) haemolytica (formerly Pasteurella [P.] haemolytica) is the primary aetiological agent of pneumonic pasteurellosis--one of the most important respiratory diseases in cattle and sheep. While bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis is regarded to be mainly caused by M. haemolytica serotype A1, and in Germany during the last years also by serotype A6, sheep can be infected by all serotypes although there is an increased prevalence of serotypes A2 and A5-7. The obligate pathogenicity of M. haemolytica is proven by isolation of pure cultures from pneumonic lungs as well as by infection studies. Knowledge about the virulence mechanisms of M. haemolytica and their molecular basis are fragmentary, most probably due to the complex gene regulation of virulence associated factors in lung tissues. This review summarizes the current literature covering virulence factors to substantiate a model of pathogenesis. After serotype A1 strains have colonized the bovine upper respiratory tract they replace other serotypes by mechanisms unknown to date. After fulminant proliferation in the upper respiratory tract the microorganisms colonize the lower respiratory tract, finally entering alveolar spaces. An inflammatory cascade is initiated by M. haemolytica LPS and Leukotoxin, causing activation of the complement system and release of cytokines. Pathognomonic for bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis is the strong influx of neutrophiles accompanied by accumulation of fibrin, finally causing necrosis of alveolar spaces. Depending on lesion size this fibronecrotizing pneumonia can result in death of the animals. In addition, possible protective antigens are discussed. There is still a great effort in the development of efficacious vaccines against pneumonic pasteurellosis in cattle and sheep caused by various M. haemolytica serotypes worldwide. The scarce knowledge concerning presence and distribution of virulence associated factors in M. haemolytica strains and their role in pathogenesis made it difficult to determine a suitable vaccine candidate in the past. In addition, there is lack of knowledge concerning the variability of virulence factors in individual isolates. Genome sequence analysis of M. haemolytica, enabling proteomics and transciptomics, hopefully will give new insight into the pathogenesis of pneumonic pasteurellosis.     

Pasteurella haemolytica leukotoxin induces histamine release from bovine pulmonary mast cells.

Pasteurella haemolytica A1 leukotoxic culture supernatant was evaluated for its ability to induce histamine release from bovine pulmonary mast cells isolated by enzymatic dispersion of lung tissue. Histamine was measured by a radioimmunoassay technique. Leukotoxic culture supernatant of P. haemolytica significantly released histamine in a time and concentration-related manner. This effect was lost when culture supernatant was heat-inactivated or preincubated with leukotoxin neutralizing rabbit serum. Preincubation of the mast cells with propranolol or p-bromophenacyl bromide reduced the histamine-releasing effect of leukotoxin, while verapamil enhanced release. Experimental infection of calves with P. haemolytica A1 reduced the total histamine content of pulmonary mast cells recovered at postmortem. Histamine release induced by P. haemolytica leukotoxin is likely an important factor in the pathogenesis of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis.     

The pathogenesis of sequential infection with parainfluenza virus type 3 and Pasteurella haemolytica in sheep

Conventionally-delivered colostrum-deprived lambs were inoculated with either parainfluenza virus type 3 (PI₃) alone or PI₃ followed, 6 days later, by Pasteurella haemolytica (P.h.). Six out of 20 lambs died or were killed in extremis within 3 days of the inoculation of P.h.; the remainder were selected at random and killed from 1 to 28 days after the inoculation of P.h.Extensive pneumonic lesions developed in a large proportion of lambs inoculated with both agents but in none of those inoculated with the virus alone. Histologically, the pneumonic lesions fell into two categories: necrotic lesions, demarcated by a zone of either oat-cell or neutrophil infiltration, and a milder, purulent bronchopneumonia. Bacterial numbers tended to be higher in necrotic lesions than they were in purulent lesions. Virus titres in nasal secretions, on the day of inoculation of P.h. (day 6), also were higher in animals that developed necrotic lesions than they were in those that developed milder lesions. Nevertheless, titres were similar in both groups on day 4.Necrotic lesions persisted for at least 21 days as residual encapsulated abscesses which still contained viable P.h. whereas the milder, purulent bronchopneumonia was not detected later than 3 days after the inoculation of P.h..     

The effect of Pasteurella haemolytica and the leukotoxin of Pasteurella haemolytica on bovine lung explants.

Bovine lung explants were used in a study designed to compare the pathogenic effects of Pasteurella haemolytica type 1, a nonpathogenic organism Neisseria subflava, or the crude leukotoxin of P. haemolytica on alveolar macrophages and lung parenchymal cells. Concentrated, purified peripheral blood neutrophil suspensions were added with the bacteria to some explants. Duplicate pairs of cultures from each treatment group were fixed at regular intervals up to 24 hours after seeding and morphological changes were assessed by light and electron microscopy. Pasteurella haemolytica caused deterioration of alveolar macrophages within one hour but did not affect parenchymal cells for more than 12 hours. Neisseria subflava did not affect alveolar macrophages initially, but caused an accelerated deterioration after four hours. After 24 hours, bacterial overgrowth caused similar deterioration of all cells in explants seeded with either bacterium. Alveolar macrophages phagocytosed large numbers of N. subflava but rarely ingested P. haemolytica. Added neutrophils did not have any discernible effect on any of the explants and did not potentiate bacterial effects. Addition of crude leukotoxin of P. haemolytica to the culture medium significantly accelerated alveolar macrophage deterioration without apparent effect on parenchymal cell survival. These results support the hypothesis that the severe tissue destruction of fulminant pneumonic pasteurellosis is not a direct result of bacterial infection.     

Vaccination studies against experimental bovine Pasteurella pneumonia.

Vaccination-challenge experiments were conducted in colostrum-deprived calves to evaluate the efficacy of Pasteurella bacterins and vaccines against experimental pneumonic pasteurellosis. Calves were vaccinated with formalin-killed bacterins and live vaccines, then challenge exposed intratracheally with P. haemolytica or P. multocida. Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus was inoculated intranasally three to four days prior to P. haemolytica challenge-exposure. All calves were examined for macroscopic and microscopic lesions after being found dead or following euthanasia four to seven days after challenge exposure with the bacterial pathogen. Clinical, hematological, and pathological responses to challenge exposure in aluminum hydroxide absorbed P. haemolytica and P. multocida bacterin-treated calves were consistent with the pneumonic lesions of pulmonary pasteurellosis in the control calves. An oil-adjuvanted P. haemolytica bacterin limited clinical and pathological responses in the affected calves whereas a P. multocida oil-adjuvanted bacterin did not. Both clinical and pathological responses to challenge exposure in calves vaccinated with live Pasteurella vaccines were less severe than those of the control calves. Vaccine effectiveness appeared to be dose dependent.     

Bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis: experimental induction in vaccinated and nonvaccinated calves.

A study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the immune response induced by combined aerosol and parenteral vaccination on the lung lesions induced in calves by Pasteurella haemolytica AI. Twenty-four calves, twelve of which had been vaccinated with killed P. haemolytica by aerosol and subcutaneous injection in Freund's complete and incomplete adjuvant were challenged by intratracheal inoculation of live P. haemolytica. Serological response to vaccination was not marked but was best measured by the whole cell agglutination test or by indirect bacterial agglutination rather than by the passive haemagglutination test. Titres of vaccinates were positively correlated with the degree of pneumonic change following challenge while in nonvaccinated controls, titres were negatively correlated with lung lesions. These findings suggest the occurrence of an immunologically mediated hypersensitivity pneumonitis in the lungs of vaccinates and point to the potential efficacy of live bacterial aerosols for stimulation of protective immunity in pneumonic pasteurellosis.     

Cloning and expression of a 30 kDa surface antigen of Pasteurella haemolytica

Pasteurella haemolytica biotype A serotype 1 is the principal etiologic agent of bovine pneumonic pasteurellosis. A clear understanding of the pathogenesis of this disease and the mechanisms of resistance to it has been limited by a lack of information on the important antigens of the organisms. Using recombinant DNA techniques we have cloned a segment of DNA from P. haemolytica A1 that encodes three proteins of 28, 30, and 32 kDa. Two of these proteins, 30 and 28 kDa, react strongly on a Western blot with a bovine serum raised against live cells of P. haemolytica A1. The gene for the 30 kDa protein was localized to a 3.1 kbp EcoRI fragment, and expression of the 30 kDa protein was found to be independent of an E. coli promoter. The 30 kDa protein comigrated with a 30 kDa P. haemolytica protein that was susceptible to radioiodination and presumably exposed on the bacterial cell surface. The other principal radiolabeled P. haemolytica proteins were 100, 45, and 15 kDa. Antibodies against the 30 kDa protein, isolated from E. coli carrying the recombinant plasmid, recognized 30 kDa and 15 kDa proteins in P. haemolytica serotypes 1-15 and caused agglutination of whole P. haemolytica A1 cells. Cattle vaccinated with live P. haemolytica, P. haemolytica outer membrane proteins, or the cloned 30 kDa protein developed antibodies to the cloned 30 kDa protein as detected by Western blotting and densitometry. Sera were obtained from cattle vaccinated with live or killed P. haemolytica or saline and challenged with P. haemolytica. Those sera were evaluated for antibody responses to the cloned 30 kDa protein. High antibody responses to the 30 kDa protein significantly correlated (P less than 0.01) with resistance to challenge. From these studies it is concluded that the 30 kDa protein represents a surface antigen of P. haemolytica A1 that may be important in inducing immunity to P. haemolytica.     

Identification of immunogenic, surface-exposed outer membrane proteins of Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1

Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1 (S1) is the bacterium most frequently recovered from the lungs of cattle that have succumbed to shipping fever pneumonia. P. haemolytica outer membrane proteins (OMPs) are important immunogens in the development of resistance to pneumonic pasteurellosis. The purpose of this study was to identify the repertoire of immunogenic, surface-exposed P. haemolytica (S1) OMPs, that could be important in the development of protective immunity. We determined surface exposure of OMPs by (1) their susceptibility to protease treatment and (2) their ability to adsorb out antibodies from bovine immune sera. For a comprehensive identification of immunogenic, surface-exposed OMPs, we used bovine antisera from calves that were resistant to experimental P. haemolytica challenge after (1) natural exposure to P. haemolytica, (2) vaccination with live P. haemolytica, or (3) vaccination with P. haemolytica OMPs. We identified 21 immunogenic, surface-exposed P. haemolytica OMPs. Most were recognized by all three immune sera. However, some were recognized by one or two of the three antisera. Our analyses identified surface-exposed, immunogenic proteins that were not identified in previous studies.     

Presence of bacterial glycocalyx and fimbriae on Pasteurella haemolytica in feedlot cattle with pneumonic pasteurellosis.

This investigation was conducted to determine if Pasteurella haemolytica within feedlot cattle affected by pneumonic pasteurellosis express fimbriae (pili) and bacterial glycocalyx. Bacteriological culture of pulmonary tissue from three calves with fibrinous pneumonia resulted in heavy growth of P. haemolytica. Transmission electron microscopy of the lungs showed numerous microcolonies of gram-negative bacteria with morphology typical of Pasteurella haemolytica. The cells within these microcolonies possessed bacterial glycocalyces which stained with ruthenium red. Glycocalyx-encased microcolonies were also present in specimens examined by scanning electron microscopy. Typical P. haemolytica cells were evident in a tracheal specimen and these bacteria had radial glycocalyces consistent with polysaccharide and proteinaceous material condensed on linear structures suggestive of fimbriae. The pathogenetic importance of the bacterial glycocalyx and fimbriae in shipping fever pneumonia has yet to be established but their presence in clinical cases of Pasteurella pneumonia in feedlot cattle further supports a possible role in the initiation and progression of this disease as well as bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents.     

Immunogenicity of a soluble antigen against Pasteurella haemolytica-associated pneumonia in calves

Three experiments were performed to evaluate the immunogenic potency of a soluble fraction of Pasteurella haemolytica against pneumonic pasteurellosis in calves. A soluble antigen was extracted by a 2.5% saline solution from P. haemolytica. Weaned Holstein bull calves, seronegative for infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus ( IBRV ) and the pasteurella antigen, were vaccinated either by repeated subcutaneous (SC) vaccination, or by exposure 3 times to the aerosol of P. haemolytica antigen. Challenge exposure to aerosol of P. haemolytica was preceded by infection with IBRV , or in experiments 2 and 3, the virus exposures were combined with a stress treatment. The lung lesions were examined at necropsy 3 to 8 days post infection. In the first experiment, all the vaccinated calves produced specific antibody response to the pasteurella antigen, and none of the calves including controls showed significant lesions in the lung. In the second experiment 2 aerogenically vaccinated calves had no lesions. One of the two SC-vaccinated calves had mild consolidated lesions. Two control calves, one of which died 3 days following the challenge, developed severe fibrinous pneumonia with consolidation of 50% or more of the lung surfaces. P. haemolytica was isolated only from the 2 control animals. In the third experiment, 2 of the 3 control calves developed moderate to severe consolidation, but P. haemolytica was isolated only from one of them. Two of the three aerosol-vaccinated calves also developed significant lesions and one of them yielded the bacteria from the lung. Three SC-vaccinated calves had slight lesions and the organism was not isolated from their lungs. The results did not consistently indicate an immunogenic potential of the soluble antigen against P. haemolytica-related pneumonia. The effect of stress on the pathogenesis of bovine viral pneumonia and correlation between pneumonic lesions and antibacterial resistance in situ are discussed.     

Results of experimental immunization of calves with different Pasteurella antigens]

Calves immunised with different Pasteurella antigens (inactivated whole cells, sodium chloride extract) where challenged two weeks after the second immunization with the homologous strain. The intracutaneous application of whole cells of P. haemolytica A1 and P. multocida A was effective. The incidence of pneumonia was reduced and the pneumonic lesions were less severe. The sodium chloride extract was not effective.     

Experimental infection of lambs with an aerosol of Pasteurella haemolytica.

Specific pathogen free lambs were exposed to an aerosol of Pasteurella haemolytica. Ten lambs vaccinated with an adjuvanted killed P haemolytica vaccine and nine units of P haemolytica administered in an aerosol. Pneumonia histologically indistinguishable from natural pneumonic pasteurellosis occurred in one vaccinated lamb and in four control lambs.     

Experimental infection of sheep with Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and Pasteurella haemolytica

A group of Caesarian-derived, colostrum-deprived lambs was inoculated intranasally and intratracheally with a virulent Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae isolate selected from ovine mammary studies and propagated in an ovine mammary gland. Other groups of lambs were inoculated with M. ovipneumoniae in combination with Pasteurella haemolytica type Al or P. haemolytica alone. The M. ovipneumoniae isolate alone did not induce any specific pneumonic lesions in the lambs and when combined with P. haemolytica type Al did not increase the severity of the P. haemolytica-type lesions. Fifty percent of lambs inoculated with P. haemolytica developed a purulent and exudative bronchopneumonia with pleurisy and high titres of P. haemolytica were recovered from these lesions.     

A characterization of monoclonal antibodies prepared against Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1 surface antigens.

The production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1 is described. Ten monoclonal antibodies were produced and divided, on the basis of their properties, into six different groups. One produced bacteria agglutination only of P. haemolytica serotype 1. Three antibodies bound with P. haemolytica serotypes 1, 5-8 and 12 and the antigen was identified in immunoblots as lipopolysaccharide. Two antibodies bound P. haemolytica serotypes 1, 2, 5-8 and 12 and P. multocida serotypes 1-7, 9, 12, 15 and 16, recognizing an epitope present on a 29 kDa outer membrane protein. One antibody bound all P. haemolytica and P. multocida serotypes. The antigen was a hexosamine less than 30 kDa which contained a formalin sensitive epitope. One antibody bound only to P. haemolytica serotype 1 and the antigen was identified as a 66 kDa outer membrane protein. Two antibodies bound P. haemolytica serotypes 1, 2, 5-9 and 12 and the antigen, while not identified, was localized on the outer membrane. This study identified antigens which contribute to the cross-reactions among P. haemolytica and P. multocida serotypes and the antibodies may be useful in investigating the pathogenesis of pneumonic pasteurellosis.     

Evaluation of combined Pasteurella vaccines in control of sheep pneumonia

The effectiveness of an oil adjuvant vaccine (OAV) incorporating locally isolated strains of Pasteurella haemolytica type 7 and Pasteurella multocida types A and D was compared with that of Carovax (Wellcome Laboratories) in imported cross-bred lambs. The criterion of efficacy was the ability of the vaccines to reduce the extent of pneumonic lesions in vaccinated as against unvaccinated control lambs. The OAV produced at this Institute significantly reduced the lung lesions at P less than 0.05 level compared with its control group when challenged with P. haemolytica alone. However, the vaccine was unsatisfactory against P. multocida or combined P. multocida P. haemolytica challenge. Carovax did not produce any significant reduction in the lung lesions caused by P. haemolytica and/or P. multocida.     

Effect of a new macrolide antibiotic (tilmicosin) on pneumonia experimentally induced in calves by Mycoplasma bovis and Pasteurella haemolytica

Two gnotobiotic calves were treated once with tilmicosin (20 mg kg-1) six hours before they were infected by the intratracheal route with Mycoplasma bovis and Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 1. This treatment prevented colonisation of the lungs by P haemolytica and considerably reduced colonisation by M bovis, and the clinical scores and the extent of pneumonic consolidation, compared with two untreated gnotobiotic calves, both of which had to be killed in extremis for humanitarian reasons within 24 hours of infection. In a second experiment, 10 conventionally reared calves were similarly exposed to infection and, at the onset of clinical disease, five were treated once with tilmicosin (20 mg kg-1). Colonisation by P haemolytica and M bovis, the clinical scores and extent of pneumonic consolidation were suppressed or greatly reduced in the treated compared with the untreated calves, one of which had to be killed in extremis two days after infection. It was concluded that tilmicosin had a beneficial effect.