Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae serotype-8 isolates and their antigenic relationships with other A pleuropneumoniae serotypes

Antigenic relationship of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae serotype-8 isolates with other serotypes was studied, using tube agglutination, with and without 2-mercaptoethanol, indirect hemagglutination with and without 2-mercaptoethanol, ring precipitation, coagglutination, and immunodiffusion tests. Serotype-8 isolates possessed serotype-specific, group-specific common antigens cross-reactive with serotypes 3 and 6 and species-specific common antigens cross-reactive with other serotypes. Absorption studies were done to study the antigenic relationship of serotype 8 with serotypes 3 and 6. Rabbit antisera against whole-cell (WC) suspensions of reference strains of serotypes 3, 6, and 8 were used for absorption studies with WC and boiled WC suspensions of homologous and heterologous serotypes. Unabsorbed and absorbed sera were tested for antibodies against WC and boiled WC antigen preparations of serotype 8, using various serotests. Absorption studies revealed that serotype-8 strains possessed 2 main types of epitopes, one of which was serotype-specific and did not have cross-reactivity with other serotypes. The second type of epitopes was group specific and was cross-reactive with serotypes 3 and 6.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility and serotypes of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae recovered from Missouri swine

The antimicrobial susceptibility of 73 Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae isolates from swine in Missouri was determined with a microdilution minimal inhibitory concentration test system. Serotyping was accomplished by means of co-agglutination. Serotype 1 (39/73) and serotype 5 (30/73) were commonly found, whereas serotype 7 (4/73) was infrequently encountered. Most isolates (MIC90) were found susceptible to ampicillin (amoxicillin), cephalothin, penicillin, erythromycin, gentamicin, and kanamycin. Marked resistance was found with oxytetracycline, tylosin, and sulfadimethoxine. The data indicate that use of ampicillin (amoxicillin) or penicillin may correlate well with the favorable outcome of treatment.     

Grouping of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strains of serotypes 1 through 12 on the basis of their virulence in mice

Variations in virulence among strains of different serotypes of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae were detected on intraperitoneal or intranasal inoculation in mice. In general, strains of serotypes 1, 5, 9, 10 and 11 were found to be highly virulent and those of serotypes 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 12 to be less virulent. However, a few strains of serotype 5 caused low mortality in mice while some strains of serotype 3 and 7 were found to be highly virulent. Highly virulent strains of A. pleuropneumoniae were invasive and appeared in the blood within 3 to 6 h of intranasal inoculation. The type specific antigen as detected by the coagglutination test was distributed in lungs, liver, heart and spleen after intraperitoneal inoculation whereas it was mostly concentrated in the lungs after intranasal inoculation. Lowest concentration of boiled whole-cell suspension of A. pleuropneumoniae showing limulus amebocyte lysate activity was variable and independent of the serotype. Mortality caused by boiled whole cell suspension was also variable and serotype independent.     

Differentiation of twelve Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes by outer membrane lipoprotein gene-based restriction fragment length polymorphism

Twelve Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes were differentiated by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified fragments from the outer membrane lipoprotein (omlA) gene. All 12 reference serotypes and 80 field isolates produced the expected 950-base pair (bp) fragment of the omlA gene by PCR. Combining the RFLP patterns obtained with SfaNI, Bst71I, AluI, NciI, nine distinct patterns were observed in the 12 serotype reference strains. The PCR-based RFLP analysis of omlA genes allows differentiation among the 12 serotypes, with the exception of group 1 (serotypes 1, 9 and 11), and group 2 (serotypes 2 and 8). When the PCR products from the 70 field isolates were subjected to RFLP analysis, 68 showed the same RFLP patterns as their respective serotype reference strain. Two isolates that could not be typed had the same RFLP patterns as those of serotype 5. These results suggest that PCR-based RFLP analysis of the omlA genes may be of value in differentiating among 12 A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes.     

Serotype specificity of immunological assays for the capsular polymer of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1 and 9.

The cross-reactivity of the purified polysaccharides of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes 1 and 9 were examined using a variety of highly sensitive assays, such as radioimmunoassay, latex agglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and immunoblotting. In addition, conventional immunodiffusion was included for comparison. Latex agglutination, utilizing affinity-purified IgG to capsule, was also used to serotype whole cells. Agglutination or precipitation tests (radioimmunoassay, latex agglutination, and immunodiffusion) indicated no cross-reactivity between the capsules of serotypes 1 and 9, and no cross-reactivity between whole cells by latex agglutination. Assays that required binding of the capsule to a solid support (ELISA and immunoblotting) did demonstrate cross-reactions between serotypes 1 and 9 capsules, although reactions with the heterologous serotype were weaker than with the homologous serotype. The cross-reactivity could not be attributed solely to nonspecific factors because similar cross-reactivity did not occur with serotype 5 or 7 capsules by any assay. Reactivity of antisera with homologous or heterologous capsule was reduced, but not completely eliminated, by adsorption with washed, live bacteria of the heterologous serotype. Thus, the assay, as well as the antigen or specificity of the antibody reagent used, may influence the results of A. pleuropneumoniae serotyping or serological tests.     

Early in vivo interactions of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae with tonsils of pigs.

Twenty gnotobiotic piglets were inoculated with 5 x 10(8) colony forming units of an Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae biotype 1-serotype 9 strain onto their tonsils. Five other piglets (controls) were inoculated with phosphate-buffered saline solution. Pigs were euthanized at 30 min, 90 min, 180 min, 6 h, 9 h, 12 h or 24 h after inoculation. At necropsy, samples were taken from the tonsils for bacteriological, histological, immuno-histochemical and electron microscopical examination. A. pleuropneumoniae was isolated from tonsils of all the infected pigs, but not from tonsils of the control pigs. Early after inoculation bacteria were mainly associated with the stratified squamous epithelium and detached epithelial cells. Vacuolization and desquamation of the epithelium was observed and many transmigrating neutrophils were present. At later times after inoculation, bacteria were found closely associated with the crypt-walls and with detached cells present in the crypts. A strong neutrophil migration was observed mainly in the deeper parts of the crypts. It is concluded that attachment of A. pleuropneumoniae to tonsillar epithelial cells probably constitutes a first step in establishing bacteria at this body site.     

Atypical Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolates that share antigenic determinants with both serotypes 1 and 7.

In the present study, the characterization of 3 atypical isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is presented. Two isolates (1B and 27E) showed positive reactions in coagglutination, immunodiffusion, and indirect hemagglutination tests for serotypes 1 and 7, whereas the third isolate (26B) reacted with antisera to serotypes 1, 4, and 7. These atypical isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae possessed a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) antigenically related to serotype 1 as well as an O-chain lipopolysaccharide antigenically related to serotype 7 or to serotypes 4 and 7, as shown by the use of monoclonal antibodies. Results of toxin profile and virulence assays for mice and pigs showed them to be more related to A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 field isolates. All 3 isolates induced antibodies mainly against serotype 7/4 O-long-chain lipopolysaccharide (LC-LPS) and, to a lesser extent, to the CPS of serotype 1, in experimentally infected pigs. Diagnostic laboratories that use a LC-LPS-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serodiagnosis of A. pleuropneumoniae infection in swine would probably diagnose herds infected with these atypical isolates as being infected by A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 7 or 4, whereas those that use a CPS-based ELISA would probably consider them as infected by A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1.     

胸膜肺炎放线杆菌研究进展

胸膜肺炎放线杆菌 (Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae,APP,也有简写为 Ap) ,原称胸膜肺炎嗜血杆菌(H aemophiluspleuropneumoniae,Hp) ,属于巴氏杆菌科嗜血杆菌属 ,后又根据其表型 (phenotype)和 DNA杂交水平均与放线杆菌属模式种密切相关 ,归属为巴氏杆菌科放线杆菌属 ,命名为猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌 [1 ] 。由本菌引起的猪接触传染性胸膜肺炎是猪的呼吸道传染病 ,各种年龄的猪均易感染 ;常与巴氏杆菌等混合感染 [1 ]。病猪发热 (可达 4 2℃ ) ,呼吸困难 ,食欲不振 ;剖检可见纤维素性胸膜肺炎 ,多感染两侧 ,6 5 %的肺叶病变严重 ;发病率 8.…     

猪传染性胸膜肺炎放线杆菌"菌影"的制备

本试验通过PCR扩增噬菌体PhiX174 的裂解基因E,将该基因连接到含有入PL/PR-cI857启动阻遏系统的pBV220 栽体中,从而使裂解基因E和启动阻遏系统入PL/PR-cI857串联成为温度敏感的裂解盒,构建重组质粒pBV-E.再将含有E基因的裂解盒插入到App-E.coli穿梭载体pGZRS-18中,构建胸膜肺炎放线杆菌打孔质粒.采用电击穿孔法将其转入胸膜肺炎放线杆菌中,含有打孔质粒的胸膜肺炎放线杆菌在28℃条件下生长到对数生长期,升温42℃诱导E基因的表达,制备了胸膜肺炎放线杆菌菌影.电镜观察菌影形态完整,内容物全部被释放到胞外.本试验为进一步研究菌影这一新型菌苗及佐剂奠定了基础.     

Biochemical typing of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

A study was conducted to evaluate the possibility of using biochemical differences among strains of a given serotype of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae as epidemiological markers, to rapidly identify the source of infection in herds affected with swine pleuropneumonia. Out of 38 different biochemical and physiological tests performed on a total of 67 strains belonging to serotypes 1 and 5 of A. pleuropneumoniae, three fermentation tests, glycerol, lactose and raffinose, allowed the classification of serotype 1 strains into 6 phenotypic groups and serotype 5 strains into 4 of these groups. Groups II and III were exclusively composed of serotype 1 strains, whereas the majority of strains in groups I and IV belonged to serotypes 1 and 5 respectively, the latter comprising almost all the serotype 5 studied.     

Endothelial cytotoxicity of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

The cytotoxicity of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 strain CM5 for porcine and bovine endothelial cells in vitro, was dose-dependent. This strain and its attenuated and avirulent substrain CM5A were equally cytotoxic. The cytotoxicity observed during five hours of exposure of endothelial cells to bacterial products was abolished if the bacteria were inactivated by heat or sonication. Exposure of the endothelial cells for five hours to 100 and 200 micrograms of purified lipopolysaccharide resulted in a partial cytotoxicity only, which was not enhanced in the presence of fresh guinea pig serum. The cytotoxicity of viable bacteria could be neutralised by a polyclonal rabbit antiserum to the purified 104kD haemolysin. A bacteria-free supernate of a culture of strain CM5 had both haemolytic and cytotoxic activity. The haemolytic activity could be neutralised completely by the anti-serum to the 104kD haemolysin, whereas the cytotoxic activity was only partially neutralisable. Hence A pleuropneumoniae is cytotoxic for endothelial cells and this cytotoxicity is possibly mediated by the 104kD haemolysin.     

Serodiagnosis of swine pleuropneumonia due to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes 7 and 4 using long-chain lipopolysaccharides.

A saline boiled extract (SBE), capsular polysaccharides (CPS) and long-chain lipopolysaccharides (LC-LPS) of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 have been evaluated in ELISA for the serodiagnosis of swine pleuropneumonia caused by this serotype. Mean optical densities (ODs) obtained with the 3 antigens using sera from negative herds as well as from animals experimentally and naturally exposed to A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 7 or 4 were not statistically different. The positive ELISA reaction with anti-serotype 4 sera was unexpected with the CPS, which are supposed to be serotype-specific; LPS traces present in the CPS appeared to be responsible for this reaction. In addition, sera from animals exposed to A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 5 or 10 presented cross-reactions with the SBE and the CPS, but not with the LC-LPS. Cross-reactions were mainly due to rough LPS, as shown by immunoblotting. The LC-LPS is easily obtainable and can be used for the detection of antibodies in animals infected with A. pleuropneumoniae serotypes 7 and 4.     

Efficacy of an Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae bacterin against serotypes 1, 3, 5 and 9.

A trial was performed in a swine research facility to ascertain the protection provided by a polyvalent Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) bacterin containing serotypes 1, 3, 5 and 9. The test animals consisted of 60, eight-week-old, piglets, which were randomly divided into four main groups. The four main groups were further divided into three sub-groups (I, II, III) of five pigs each. Subgroup I was vaccinated intramuscularly, sub-group II was vaccinated subcutaneously, and sub-group III served as the unvaccinated control group. Each main group was challenged with a single APP serotype (1, 3, 5 or 9). Criteria for evaluation of the bacterin efficacy were mortality, lung lesions, pleural adhesions, and isolation of APP from tonsil or lung. Significant effects of vaccination over nonvaccination were reduced mortality, lung lesions, pleural adhesions, and isolations of APP from tonsil and lung. There were no significant differences between the intramuscular and subcutaneous routes of vaccination. It was concluded that the four-way APP bacterin used in this study provided satisfactory protection against homologous challenge. Evidence of protection was lower mortality and lung lesions and increased daily weight gains in vaccinates as compared with controls.     

Antimicrobial resistance profile of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Actinobacillus porcitonsillarum

A total of 83 Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and 58 Actinobacillus porcitonsillarum strains collected from slaughtered pigs in Switzerland were screened for susceptibility to 20 antimicrobial agents by MIC determinations. Resistance to sulfamethoxazole, the combination sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, tiamulin, tilmicosin, tetracycline, penicillin and ampicillin were found. A few A. porcitonsillarum isolates displayed decreased susceptibility to enrofloxacin. PCR analysis revealed the presence of the sul2 gene in approximately one-fifth of the sulfonamide-resistant A. pleuropneumoniae and A. porcitonsillarum isolates. The tetracycline-resistant A. pleuropneumoniae harbored tet(B) and tet(H), whereas the tetracycline-resistant A. porcitonsillarum isolates harbored the tet(B) gene. The penicillin and ampicillin-resistant A. pleuropneumoniae and A. porcitonsillarum harbored the bla(ROB-1) gene.     

Serologic studies of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae strains of serotype-3 and their antigenic relationships with other A pleuropneumoniae serotypes in swine

Serotype-3 strains of Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae possess epitopes shared with almost all other Actinobacillus serotypes. Common epitopes detected in particulate antigens were heat-labile and heat-stable and were of minor nature. Additional cross-reactive epitopes were detected in soluble and particulate antigens prepared from strains of serotypes 3, 6, and 8. Cross-reactions occurring between serotype-3 antigens and those of other serotypes were of 2 types: one associated mainly with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME)-sensitive IgM antibodies and the other associated mainly with 2-ME-resistant IgG antibodies. The cross-reactivity between serotypes 3, 6, and 8 was associated mainly with IgG antibodies, as shown by the results of 2-ME tube agglutination, 2-ME-indirect hemagglutination, and coagglutination tests. None of the tests was entirely satisfactory for serotyping serotype-3 isolates, mainly as a result of overlapping of type-specific antigenic determinants of serotypes 3, 6, and 8 in different combinations in the same strain. A combination of tests, using particulate and soluble antigens, may be necessary for typing of serotype-3 isolates.     

Identification of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae strains of serotypes 7 and 4 using monoclonal antibodies: demonstration of common LPS O-chain epitopes with Actinobacillus lignieresii

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 were produced and characterized. Three Mabs directed against surface polysaccharides were selected. One of the Mabs was directed against a capsular polysaccharide epitope (CPS) of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 whereas two other Mabs reacted with different epitopes of the LPS O-chain. One of the latter reacted with the reference strain of serotype 7 and the other one with serotypes 7 and 4. These three Mabs were used to test, by Dot-ELISA, 508 field strains of A. pleuropneumoniae. None of the strains belonging to other serotypes different from serotypes 4 and 7 were positive with the Mabs. Used in combination, the CPS and one of the LPS O-chain directed Mabs were shown to be suitable for serotyping since they detected 100% of serotype 7 strains. In this study, we confirm for the first time that A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 4 is present in North America. Finally, both O-chain specific Mabs also reacted with the O-chain of Actinobacillus lignieresii. The cross-reactivity between the two species was confirmed using sera from pigs experimentally infected with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 7 and A. lignieresii, using immunoblotting and ELISA. This is the first report of a specific cross-reactivity between the LPS of these bacterial species.     

猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌的分离鉴定

采用巧克力琼脂平板从贵州省某养猪场发病猪体分离到3株细菌,经培养特性观察、生化特征检查和血清型鉴定,确定3株分离菌均为猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌血清7型。经药敏试验显示,分离菌对氨苄西林、硫酸庆大霉素、丙氟哌酸、氟哌酸、头孢三嗪和四环素等药物高度敏感。     

猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌脂多糖的制备及对小鼠的免疫保护作用

采用酚-水法制备血清3型、4型、5型、7型和8型猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌（APP）脂多糖（LPS），以该多糖免疫小鼠，进行同源攻毒保护试验，结果LPS在20斗∥只的免疫剂量下可对小鼠产生较强的保护作用，用同血清型菌株对免疫后的小鼠攻毒，仅表现肺脏轻微出血，无死亡，而对照组未经免疫直接攻毒的小白鼠全部死亡，肺脏严重出血；小鼠免疫后第2d就可以检测到抗体，并且抗体水平上升较快，到第6d抗体达到最高水平，之后，抗体水平开始下降，但下降幅度不大，可持续2个月左右；交叉保护试验结果表明血清3型LPS对血清5型和7型APP，血清4型LPS对血清5型和7型APP没有保护作用，免疫后的小鼠攻毒仍表现多数死亡；血清3型LPS对血清4型和8型APP有交叉保护作用，血清4型LPS对血清3型和8型APP有交叉保护作用，血清5型、7型、8型LPS对5个血清型的APP都有交叉保护作用，免疫后的小鼠攻毒无死亡，仅表现肺脏有不同程度的出血。上述结果表明LPS是APP的主要免疫保护性抗原之一，该研究为APP亚单位疫苗的研制及应用提供了理论依据。     

Comparative pathogenicity of different Actinobacillus suis O/K serotypes.

The pathogenicity of Actinobacillus suis serotypes O1/K1 (strain SO4), O1/K2 (strain C84), and O2/K2 (strain H91-0380) was evaluated in specific-pathogen-free (SPF) piglets challenged by intraperitoneal inoculation with approximately 1 x 10(7) colony-forming units per mL. All 3 strains produced peritonitis, but differences were observed in the composite histopathologic scores (P = 0.001) and in their ability to spread (P = 0.008) at 7 h post challenge. The O2/K2 strain caused the most severe peritonitis and disseminated most widely to other tissues. Moderate lesions were seen with the O1/K2 strain while the O1/K1 strain caused mild lesions and remained largely localized to the peritoneum. In an attempt to explain the basis of observed differences, the serum sensitivity of 9 A. suis strains with different O and K types was assessed. Regardless of the O/K type, all of the isolates tested were serum resistant. Moreover, most A. suis isolates grew as well or better in complement-replete sera as they did in complement-depleted sera. These observations indicate that although 02 and K2 strains had a greater propensity to cause a disseminating septic inflammatory response in pigs, they were no more resistant to complement-mediated killing than O1 strains.