BRUCELLA CULTURES TYPED BY THE WHO BRUCELLOSIS CENTRE AT THE COMMONWEALTH SERUM LABORATORIES, MELBOURNE

Results of the typing of Brucella cultures received at the WHO Brucellosis Centre, CSL, Melbourne, from 1968-1976 are presented. The distribution of the biotypes of cultures recovered throughout Australia is shown on a host and State basis and atypical cultures are discussed. Cultures identified from Australia were Br. abortus, biotypes 1, 2 and 4 and Strain 19; Br. suis, biotype 1 and Br. ovis. Br. melitensis biotypes 1, 2 and 3 were recorded only as exotic human infections from the Mediterranean area and from laboratory infections. Br. abortus, biotype 1 was the most common bovine and human isolate and was found in horses, a goat and a sheep. There was a low incidence of Br. abortus, biotype 2 in cattle and it was found in 1 horse. Br. abortus, biotype 3 was not found in Australia but was submitted from Tanzania. Br. abortus, biotype 4 was rare in cattle and was found once in a horse. Br. abortus, Strain 19 was found occasionally in cattle and once from a test guinea pig. Br. suis, biotype 1 was found in both man and pigs in Queensland and New South Wales whereas biotype 3 was isolated only in New Guinea from pigs and cattle. Br. ovis was submitted from 3 States. Br. canis has not been found in Australia.     

Experimental exposure of llamas (Lama glama) to Brucella abortus: humoral antibody response

Positive antibody reactions to brucella were observed in the sera of four llamas receiving Brucella abortus Strain 19 subcutaneously at 2-3 weeks post-exposure (PE) using five of eight conventional brucella serologic tests and an ISU-ELISA. Positive brucella antibody reactions were detected in sera of four llamas exposed by intraocular instillation (IOI) of 1.02x10(8) (high dose) B. abortus Strain 2308 at 16-35 days PE using seven of eight serologic tests or an ISU-ELISA. Brucella antibody was also detected in sera of four llamas exposed by IOI of 9x10(5) (low dose) B. abortus using each of four agglutination tests, Complement Fixation test, PCFIA, the rivanol test and the ISU-ELISA at 16-35 days PE. Positive reactions were observed using the Card test, BAPA, SPT, STT, the rivanol test, the PCFIA, and the ISU-ELISA on sera collected on days 42-70 PE, except on one llama, given the low dose; that llama was negative on the PCFIA on day 42. Positive or suspicious reactions were not detected in sera of controls, receiving saline subcutaneously, using the routine tests, with the exception of the CFT. The B. abortus Strain 2308 was isolated from tissues of seven of eight llamas exposed to virulent B. abortus Strain 2308.     

Biotypes of Brucella abortus and their value in epidemiologic studies of infected cattle herds.

Four Texas cattle herds containing cows infected with either Brucella abortus biotype 1, 2, or 4 were studied to determine the probability of transmission of Brucella between adjacent cattle herds, the most probable means by which Brucella was introduced into the herds, and the relative frequency of strain 19 isolation from vaccinated cattle. A total of 1,935 cattle in the four herds were tested for brucellosis; 339 reactors were identified, and isolations of B abortus were made from 143. The biotype of B abortus was used to determine that purchased cattle or reentry of bred heifers into the herds was probably responsible for introducing B abortus and that the biotype was not readily transmitted to adjacent herds. Three (9%) of 32 B abortus isolations from adult-vaccinated cattle were strain 19. The data supported the hypothesis that biotypes can be useful in determining the source of B abortus for cattle and in differentiating field and vaccine strain infections in adult-vaccinated cattle.     

Brucella suis biotype 1 infection in a dog

Brucella suis biotype 1 was isolated from the semen of a dog with hindlimb weakness and a large, firm, left epididymis. A semen sample was oligospermic, with many neutrophils, the numbers of which decreased in serial sampling. A card agglutination test for B abortus and a rapid slide agglutination test for B canis were positive. The modified 2-mercaptoethanol slide agglutination test for B canis and the agar gel immunodiffusion test, using B canis cell wall antigen, were negative. At necropsy, chronic granulomatous inflammation was found in, and B suis biotype 1 was isolated from, the left epididymis and prostate gland.     

Detection of brucella antigen in bovine fetal stomach contents by agar gel precipitation and counter-immunoelectrophoresis

Among 21 fetuses from serologically positive dams soluble brucella antigen was detected in the stomach contents in 14 instances by agar gel precipitation test and in 19 by counterimmunoelectrophoresis. Brucella abortus biotype 3 was isolated from the fetal stomach contents in 15 of these cases. None of 20 fetuses from serologically negative dams revealed brucella antigen in the stomach contents in either test.     

Characterization of an atypical biotype of Brucella abortus.

Brucella abortus strains were isolated from bovine tissue and milk samples from seven Ontario herds. The isolates were characterized by colonial morphology, requirement of CO2 for growth, lysis by Tbilisi phage, biochemical tests and agglutination in monospecific sera. They resembled B. abortus biotype 2 (on the basis of sensitivity to thionin and basic fuchsin) and biotype 4 (on the basis of agglutination with anti-Brucella "M" but not anti-Brucella "A" absorbed sera). Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of these isolates and B. abortus biotypes 1, 2 and 4 showed similar profiles. Immunoblots with anti-A and anti-M absorbed sera showed different antigenic regions reacting with the specific sera and also confirmed that the atypical B. abortus isolates were serologically similar to biotype 4.     

Isolation of Brucella abortus and Brucella abortus, strain 19, from cattle.

Tissues from 104 cows in herd were examined for brucellae. Brucella abortus, strain 19, was isolated from 22 cows, a field strain of B abortus, biotype 1, was isolated from 9 cows, and both strains were isolated from 2 cows.     

A serological comparison of complement fixation reactions using Brucella abortus and B. melitensis antigens in B. abortus infected cattle

Brucella abortus and B. melitensis antigens were used in parallel on the National Standard Brucella abortus antiserum and on field sera coming from cattle where practically exclusively B. abortus biotypes 1 and 2 have been isolated over the last 11 years. With the National Standard serum the titres to B. melitensis were consistently lower than those to B. abortus antigen. Most were 1 dilution (twofold) lower. Although a similar trend was seen with the field sera, there were 7/346 sera which had twofold or higher titres to B. melitensis antigen. Although this may be due to the vagaries of the test it also warrants closer investigation of the animals concerned to see whether M-antigen predominant Brucella biotypes are possibly present. The use of the dual antigens could identify herds which are infected only with A-antigen predominant brucellae but would not be reliable for classifying individual animals.     

新疆绵羊种布鲁氏菌HtrA基因与GroEL基因的克隆及其原核表达

根据已发表的牛流产型布鲁氏菌HtrA（High temperature requinnent A）基因、GroEL（热休克蛋白）基因设计特异性引物，从新疆绵羊种布鲁氏菌基因组中扩增出HtrA、GroEL基因片段，将HtrA、GroEL基因片段纯化后分别克隆到T载体上测序，结果表明新疆绵羊种布鲁氏菌HtrA基因片段长1542bp，编码513个氨基酸，与发表的牛种（B．abortus）、羊种（B．melitensis）、猪种（B．suis）的HtrA基因序列的同源性分别为99．68％、99．81％、99．55％。GroEL基因片段长1641bp，编码546个氨基酸，与B．melitensis、B．suis以及B．aborms GroEL基因的核苷酸序列同源性分别为99．88％、99．82％、99．88％。HtrA基因和GroEL基因与发表的B．abortus、B．melitensis、B．suis的HtrA基因和GroEL基因序列的具有很高的同源性。按正确的阅读框架分别将两基因片段定向克隆到表达载体pET．28a上，将重组质粒转化到大肠杆菌BL21菌株，经IPTG诱导表达，SDS-PAGE电泳和western blot分析表明，HtrA、GroEL基因能在大肠杆菌中成功表达，表达的蛋白分子量都约为60Ku，并能和布鲁氏菌免疫兔子产生的抗体发生特异性的结合。     

Characterisation of a new phage lytic for both smooth and non-smooth Brucella species

A brucella phage of the Izatnagar series, designated Iz1, was lytic for all Brucella species that are normally smooth, although the efficiency of plating varied between biovars and species. The phage was also lytic for rough strains of B melitensis and B suis and, to a lesser extent, B ovis. It displayed negligible lytic activity towards B canis and rough B abortus cultures. In its morphological and serological properties and its stability to inactivating agents, the Iz1 phage resembled other brucella phages.     

2308、M28、S1330三株不同种布鲁氏菌的毒力测定

为了测定牛、羊、猪三株不同种布鲁氏菌参考强毒株的毒力,选择了牛种2308、羊种M28和猪种S1330株,分别用雌性豚鼠（Hartley）和雌性小鼠（Balb/c）对其毒力进行测定。豚鼠测毒试验中,用含不同菌数的菌液腹股沟皮下注射5只豚鼠,测定2308、M28、S1330菌株的豚鼠最小感染量（MID）,结果显示以上3种毒株对豚鼠的最小感染量分别为9 CFU、10 CFU和30CFU。小鼠测毒实验中,将2308、M28和S1330菌液按1×105CFU/0.2 mL/只腹股沟皮下注射小鼠各5只,2周后分别剖杀小鼠,取脾脏测定含菌量,平均脾含菌量分别为1676971、314765、83811CFU/g脾脏。豚鼠和小鼠测毒均显示牛种2308株毒力最强,羊种M28株次之,猪种S1330毒力最弱。本研究首次用豚鼠和小鼠同时测定了布鲁氏菌2308、M28、S1330株的毒力,补充了布鲁氏菌参考强毒株的毒力数据。     

三种布鲁氏菌病疫苗株的毒力比较

为系统比较我国现有布鲁氏菌病疫苗株A19、M5和S2的毒力,分别用上述3种疫苗株以1×105CFU/只免疫Balb/c小鼠,免疫后每隔2周采集小鼠脾脏,分离细菌,测定各疫苗株在小鼠脾脏中的存留时间。结果 A19、M5、S2在小鼠体内存活时间依次为14周、大于16周、6周。将以上3种疫苗株分别以1×109CFU/只免疫Hartley豚鼠,15日后测定豚鼠脾脏含菌量,结果 A19、M5、S2免疫后每克脾脏含菌量分别为2.8×104CFU、大于6.7×105CFU、3.8×103CFU。研究结果表明,我国目前使用的布鲁氏菌疫苗中,S2毒力最弱,A19其次,M5最强。     

布鲁氏菌omp28基因的克隆、表达及反应原性分析

本研究克隆了羊种布鲁氏菌16M株、羊种布鲁氏菌M28株、犬种布鲁氏菌、绵羊附睾种布鲁氏菌、牛种布鲁氏菌A19株、猪种布鲁氏菌S2株的omp28基因并对以上不同种菌株的omp28基因序列及编码的氨基酸序列进行了比对,结果显示不同种布鲁氏菌omp28基因之间仅6个碱基不同,而且只有2个氨基酸不同,亲水性分析结果显示两处氨基酸的差异对蛋白亲水性不造成影响.将羊种布鲁氏菌16M的omp28基因亚克隆到pET32a中表达,OMP28在低温下诱导以可溶性形式高效表达.Westem-blot结果显示OMP28反应原性良好,是布鲁氏菌病诊断抗原的可能选择.     

Urease activity of Brucella species

Examination of the urease activity of 604 brucella strains showed a limited correlation with species. Most strains of B canis, B neotomae and B suis gave a positive urease reaction within 15 minutes, although some exceptions were noted. A substantial proportion of strains of B abortus and B melitensis also hydrolysed urea as rapidly as most B suis strains. Although most B ovis strains were negative to the urease test, 28.9 per cent of those examined gave positive reactions.     

Genomic fingerprinting and development of a dendrogram for Brucella spp. isolated from seals, porpoises, and dolphins.

Genomic DNA from reference strains and biovars of the genus Brucella was analyzed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Fingerprints were compared to estimate genetic relatedness among the strains and to obtain information on evolutionary relationships. Electrophoresis of DNA digested with the restriction endonuclease XbaI produced fragment profiles for the reference type strains that distinguished these strains to the level of species. Included in this study were strains isolated from marine mammals. The PFGE profiles from these strains were compared with those obtained from the reference strains and biovars. Isolates from dolphins had similar profiles that were distinct from profiles of Brucella isolates from seals and porpoises. Distance matrix analyses were used to produce a dendrogram. Biovars of B. abortus were clustered together in the dendrogram; similar clusters were shown for biovars of B. melitensis and for biovars of B. suis. Brucella ovis, B. canis, and B. neotomae differed from each other and from B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis. The relationship between B. abortus strain RB51 and other Brucella biovars was compared because this strain has replaced B. abortus strain 19 for use as a live vaccine in cattle and possibly in bison and elk. These results support the current taxonomy of Brucella species and the designation of an additional genomic group(s) of Brucella. The PFGE analysis in conjunction with distance matrix analysis was a useful tool for calculating genetic relatedness among the Brucella species.     

Cell-mediated and humoral immune responses of cattle to Brucella abortus, Mycobacterium bovis, and tetanus toxoid: evaluation of immunization and assay techniques.

A concentration of 2.5 X 10(-5) M 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) added to the medium in lymphocyte blastogenesis assays increased both the uptake of [3H]thymidine in unstimulated lymphocyte cultures and the probability of detecting antigen-sensitized cattle. The use of 2-ME did not cause lymphocytes from unsensitized cattle to react positively in blastogenesis assays. A crude brucella lysate prepared from Brucella abortus strain 19 was compared with a well-characterized brucella protein allergen prepared from B melitensis and was found to be equally suitable for use in blastogenesis assays. Cell-mediated immunity was produced most effectively in 4-month-old calves by tetanus toxoid, then by Mycobacterium bovis, and least effectively by B abortus.     

Restriction endonuclease analysis of Brucella abortus

The restriction endonuclease profiles of bacterial DNA from Brucella abortus isolates were evaluated. It was not possible to distinguish between vaccine strain 19 and virulent (biotype 1 and biotype 2) strains of B abortus. Restriction endonuclease analysis is therefore not a suitable epidemiological tool in bovine brucellosis investigations. The genetic homogeneity of the Brucella genus was reinforced by these findings.     

子宫及配种攻毒布鲁氏菌后S2苗对怀孕母猪的保护力试验

本文报道了用临床学、细菌学、血清学及病理组织学方法研究了通过子宫及配种途径攻毒布氏苗后S_2苗对孕猪的保护力,结果表明当用10~6强毒攻毒后,其实际综合保护力可达70.24％。本研究为用菌苗防制猪布病打下了基础。     

The isolation and serology of Brucella melitensis in a flock of goats in central RSA

Brucella melitensis biotype 1 was isolated in pure culture from the lungs, liver, spleen, kidney, stomach contents, abomasum and brain of an aborted caprine (Boer goat) foetus in the district of Cullinan near Pretoria. The 18 does and 1 ram in the flock of Boer goates were examined serologically by means of the complement fixation (CF) test, using Brucella abortus antigen. Six weeks later they were examined again, using B. abortus as well as B. melitensis biotype 1 antigens. No significant differences were found between the 2 CF tests using B. abortus antigen, or between the results obtained by using the B. abortus and B. melitensis antigens. Twelve goats, showing CF antibody titres, were slaughtered and examined bacteriologically. No relationship was found between the serological and bacteriological results.     

New findings on the biotyping of Staphylococcus aureus isolated during milk processing]

A detailed analysis of biotypes of Staphylococcus aureus, as related to their origin and enterotoxigenicity, was performed, using 432 strains isolated from bulk milk, milking machines, quarter milk samples collected from mastitic cows, and cowherds and milkers. All strains coagulated rabbit blood plasma and produced thermonuclease (Tab. I). Human strains differed from bovine ones mostly in the production of alpha-haemolysin (94%) and fibrinolysin (66%). Biotypes C1 (35%) and C2 (38%) dominated clearly among the strains isolated from quarter milk samples. The findings of 13% of biotype A and 8% of biotype D suggest that other sources of udder infections than mastitic cows were involved. Almost 19% of human strains and two strains isolated from quarter milk samples were identified as the recently defined type G. The production of enterotoxins (Tab. III) of was associated mostly with strains of human origin (69%) and with biotypes G (35%) and A (31%). Three enterotoxigenic strains belonged to the biotype B and one strain was not classifiable.