Characterisation of Pasteurella multocida isolated from fowl cholera outbreaks on turkey farms

SUMMARY: Biochemical profiles, restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) and ribotyping were used to investigate Pasteurella multocida isolates from outbreaks of fowl cholera on 7 turkey farms in New South Wales. While only a single isolate was available from 5 of the farms, multiple isolates, 4 and 12 respectively, were available from the other 2 farms. The available field evidence suggested that 8 outbreaks had occurred with one farm suffering 2 outbreaks. The isolates obtained were all confirmed as Pasteurella multocida . Biochemical profiles allocated the isolates to 4 groups, 3 being variants of P multocida subsp multocida and the fourth being P multocida subsp septica . REA performed with Hpall established 7 groups. Ribotyping using the Hpall digests probed with the 16S rRNA operon of Haemophilus paragallinarum recognised the same 7 groups as REA. Unlike the biochemical profiles, both REA and ribotyping provided a fine subdivision that identified outbreaks as either related or unrelated. The REA and ribotyping patterns as well as biochemical profiles were stable for all isolates from the outbreaks in which multiple isolates were obtained from either the same bird or from different birds. REA and ribotyping were found to be superior to biotyping methods for the investigation of fowl cholera outbreaks.     

Epidemiology of Pasteurella multocida in a farrow-to-finish swine herd.

Thirty-eight clinical isolates of Pasteurella multocida, recovered from a continuous flow, farrow-to-finish swine herd, were characterized by capsular serotyping and restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) in order to study the epidemiology of P. multocida pneumonia. Twenty-three of the 38 isolates obtained in the study belonged to serotype A. They displayed three REA patterns after digestion with HpaII, of which one designated A-3 represented 70% of the samples. The remaining 15 isolates were serotype D. Four different REA patterns were observed in the type D isolates. The REA type D-1 was most prevalent and accounted for 47% of the serotype D isolates. All serotype A isolates were nontoxigenic, whereas five (33%) of the serotype D isolates were toxigenic. Vertical transmission of P. multocida could not be demonstrated, and was probably not a major route of infection. The results of this study suggest that strains of P. multocida virulent for pigs exist and cause swine pneumonic pasteurellosis in continuous flow herds by horizontal transmission.     

The molecular epidemiology of four outbreaks of porcine pasteurellosis

Biochemical profiles, restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) and ribotyping were used to investigate a total of 38 Pasteurella multocida isolates from four separate outbreaks of pasteurellosis in Australian piggeries. Six isolates were obtained from Outbreak 1, 16 from Outbreak 2 and eight each from outbreaks 3 and 4. Outbreaks 1 and 2 were cases of pneumonic pasteurellosis while outbreaks 3 and 4 involved systemic pasteurellosis. Biochemical characterisation established that a number of different types of P. multocida were present in outbreaks 1 and 3 while outbreaks 2 and 4 were associated with a single type of P. multocida. Outbreaks 1 and 3 yielded isolates of P. multocida that belonged to the subspecies multocida and gallicida, with the subspecies multocida isolates being identified as biovar 3 (6 in total) or 12 (1 in total) and the subspecies gallicida isolates (7 in total) being identified as biovar 8. All 24 isolates from outbreaks 2 and 4 belonged to the subspecies multocida and were all biovar 3. REA and ribotyping showed that, in outbreaks 1 and 3, there were three different types of P. multocida in each outbreak with no common strains between the outbreaks. The molecular methods showed that only a single strain of P. multocida was associated with outbreaks 2 and 4, although the outbreaks were associated with strains that differed in REA profiles but shared a ribotype profile. This study has shown that both, systemic and pneumonic pasteurellosis can be associated with either a single strain or multiple strains of P. multocida. The results also indicate that the molecular typing methods of REA and ribotyping are superior to biochemical characterisation for epidemiological investigation of porcine pasteurellosis.     

Transmission of Pasteurella multocida on California turkey premises in 1988-89.

Restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) of whole-cell DNA was used to determine possible sources of Pasteurella multocida for each outbreak of fowl cholera occurring in turkey flocks in eight commercial poultry companies in California from October 1988 to September 1989. Over this period, 179 isolates of P. multocida were obtained from dead turkeys in 80 meat and breeder flocks on 43 premises. P. multocida was isolated from wildlife on five premises. Isolates were characterized by subspecies, serotype, presence of plasmid DNA, and REA type. In 52 (65%) flocks, all isolates of P. multocida had the same REA pattern as the M9 live vaccine strain following digestion of DNA with the restriction enzyme SmaI. Field strains of P. multocida were obtained from 27 (34%) flocks, and one flock (1%) yielded both M9 and a field strain of the organism. REA of field strains of P. multocida revealed 17 different SmaI REA types. Based on matching SmaI REA types, potential sources of P. multocida were identified for 15 of the 28 flocks infected with field strains of the organism, and transmission between turkey premises was a possibility in only seven flocks.     

Molecular epidemiology of Pasteurella multocida in dairy and beef calves

The molecular epidemiology of Pasteurella multocida has rarely been studied at the farm level in cattle. The aim of this study was to determine whether single or multiple strains of P. multocida tend to exist within farms. Molecular characterisation was carried out on isolates obtained from nasal swabs from 105 calves from 32 randomly selected beef and dairy farms located throughout Scotland, and from 131 calves from 20 farms in the Mayenne region of France, where sampling occurred in response to respiratory disease outbreaks. P. multocida isolates were characterised by random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using restriction enzyme ApaI. In addition, isolates representative of each farm/RAPD profile combination were typed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Among 105 Scottish isolates, 15 RAPD profiles were distinguished. The majority of farms (27/32) had indistinguishable profiles in all positive animals. Five farms had two profiles. Among 140 French isolates, 23 RAPD profiles were distinguished. More within-farm heterogeneity was observed although 10/20 farms had just one profile (E4) in sampled calves. Profile E4 accounted for 60% (84/140) of French isolates. PFGE was more discriminatory than RAPD but confirmed results with respect to within farm homogeneity or heterogeneity of strains, whereas MLST was not discriminatory enough for farm level epidemiology. As in other host species, either several strains or one dominant strain of P. multocida may exist within farms, with evidence for a role of management factors such as movements onto the farm in the number of strains detected.     

Typing of Treponema hyodysenteriae by restriction endonuclease analysis

Restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) was used to type eight well-characterised strains of Treponema hyodysenteriae originating from the U.K., Canada and the U.S.A., and 16 isolates from cases of swine dysentery in Western Australia (W.A.). Several of the W.A. isolates were also serotyped by the method of Baum and Joens (1979), and the two typing techniques were compared. REA typing was more discriminatory than serotyping, being able to distinguish strains within serotypes. The new technique was neither more difficult nor more time-consuming to perform than serotyping. Within the 16 W.A. isolates, three different REA patterns were identified, with common patterns found on different farms. The eight overseas strains had seven different REA patterns, all of which could be distinguished from the patterns of the W.A. isolates.     

DNA fingerprinting of plasmid-containing serotype A: 3,4 Pasteurella multocida isolated from cases of fowl cholera in chickens and turkeys

The live, attenuated vaccine strains of Pasteurella multocida have been hypothesized to be responsible for homologous serotype outbreaks of fowl cholera on farms that use the commercial vaccines. We have further hypothesized that the naturally occurring Clemson University (CU) vaccine strain may be transformed to virulence by the acquisition of plasmid DNA. To test this hypothesis, we obtained seven homologous serotype (A:3,4) P. multocida isolates, all plasmid bearing, that were cultured from fowl cholera cases in vaccinated flocks and compared the isolates with the CU reference vaccine by molecular methods. Restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) were detected by DNA/DNA hybridization with labeled probes specific for the cya, aroA, and rrn genes of P. multocida. The RFLPs obtained from BglII-digested genomic DNA probed with cya demonstrated no differences among the isolates. Although three isolates probed with aroA showed a RFLP identical to the vaccine strain, five isolates were distinctly different. Isolates probed with rrn grouped into three different restriction patterns that were dissimilar from that of the vaccine strain. Therefore, we have shown that these fowl cholera isolates are different from the CU vaccine strain and that these outbreaks were not vaccine related.     

猪源大肠杆菌耐药性质粒的监测研究

在１１５株猪大肠杆菌耐药性监测的基础上,提取耐药类型最普遍的５株耐药菌的质粒进行质粒指纹图谱分析。结果表明：同一来源、耐药类型相同的菌株有相似的质粒图谱,来源不同者,酶切图谱有提示出它们之间的同源性,说明质粒指纹图谱可作为流行病学调查的工具。     

Restriction endonuclease analysis of porcine Pasteurella multocida isolates from Quebec

We have used restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) of genomic DNA to classify porcine Pasteurella multocida isolates with similar capsular and somatic serotypes, and to monitor the distribution of isolates from 12 different herds in Quebec. Within herds, P. multocida isolates of similar capsular and somatic serotypes showed similar REA fingerprints. Between herds, some isolates had similar REA fingerprints. However, differences in REA enabled subtyping of many P. multocida isolates with the same antigen types. Our data indicate that REA would enable accurate epidemiological typing of P. multocida in conjunction with classical capsular and somatic typing.     

Characterization of nine Pasteurella multocida isolates from avian cholera outbreaks in Indonesia

Avian cholera outbreaks have been identified in Indonesia in recent years. Despite vaccination programs, outbreaks continue to occur. To date, there has been a lack of information on the characteristics of Pasteurella multocida isolates involved in these outbreaks. Hence, the objective of this study was to characterize Indonesian P. multocida isolates in poultry. During 1998-99, 20 field outbreaks were reported in Indonesia. Nine isolates of P. multocida were recovered from these field outbreaks. The isolates were compared with four vaccine strains that were used in Indonesia and designated PM-V1, PM-V2, PM-V3, and PM-V4. The isolates were characterized by biotype, capsular type, somatic serotype, restriction endonuclease analysis, plasmid presence, and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Of the nine Indonesian isolates, three were of capsular type A (A:1,3,13; A:1,3; and A:8). One isolate was of type B:2,3 and one isolate was of capsular type F. For three isolates, the capsular serogroup could not be identified. Plasmids the size of 2.3 kbp were present in three of the field isolates and two of the vaccine strains. One plasmid less than 2 kbp was isolated from the vaccine strain PM-V4. Eight distinct DNA profiles were obtained from digestion with the restriction endonuclease EcoRI, and seven distinct DNA profiles were obtained from digestion with the restriction endonuclease HindIII. All of the isolates were resistant to lincomycin and sulfadiazine and were susceptible to ampicillin and trimethoprim. Of the nine isolates, seven (78%) were susceptible to doxycycline and gentamicin and six (67%) were susceptible to enrofloxacin.     

猪多杀性巴氏杆菌的分离鉴定及生物学特性研究

用PCR方法配合生化鉴定，从有肺炎症状猪的肺脏及进行性萎缩性鼻炎(Progressive atrophic rhinitis，PAR)症状猪的鼻拭子中分离出66株多杀性巴氏杆菌(Pasteurella multocida，Pm)。然后做了药敏试验，并用PCR方法对这66株Pm进行分型及毒素基因的检测，用豚鼠皮肤坏死试验及小鼠致死试验对产毒素多杀性巴氏杆菌(Toxigenie Pasteurella multocida，T^ Pm)进一步鉴定。结果显示PCR鉴定与生化鉴定Pm结果完全一致；PCR分型表明有46株为D型Pm，18株为A型：Pm，1株为B型Pm，1株无法定型；有8株用PcR检测为T^ Pm；豚鼠皮肤坏死试验及小鼠致死试验对这8株T^ Pm的进一步鉴定也表明均为产毒素菌株。所鉴定的8株T^ Pm都为D型，都分离于有严重PAR症状的猪。     

Typing of Australian isolates of Treponema hyodysenteriae by serology and by DNA restriction endonuclease analysis.

A total of 91 isolates of Treponema hyodysenteriae which were obtained from 62 piggeries located around Australia were typed by serology and by DNA restriction endonuclease analysis (REA). The isolates fell into eight serogroups, of which groups B and D were the most common. Isolates with different REA patterns were recognised within serogroups, whilst a few isolates with the same REA pattern were placed into different serogroups. Some of the latter isolates were either from the same piggery or from farms with epidemiological links, thus indicating the bacteria may have altered their antigenic properties. A total of 31 different REA patterns were recognised amongst the Australian isolates. These comprised eight major patterns, with four of these being subdivided on the basis of minor differences in banding. Where a number of isolates were obtained from individual piggeries these all had the same REA pattern, and in one piggery isolates with the same pattern were recovered over a five year period. Plasmid bands were observed in 70 of the Australian isolates (77%), and in six of the seven overseas isolates included in the study for comparison. These plasmids did not affect the REA pattern. Of the States from which substantial numbers of isolates were examined, the greatest number of different strains (12 amongst 19 piggeries) were found from Victoria, and there were 10 REA patterns in strains from 24 piggeries in Queensland. Despite the large total number of different strains of T. hyodysenteriae in Australia, only three were found in more than one State.     

Evaluation of Pasteurella multocida isolated from rabbits by capsular typing, somatic serotyping, and restriction endonuclease analysis.

The goal of this study was to characterize Pasteurella multocida isolated from rabbits. Five hundred and fifty-three apparently healthy rabbits were sampled for this study. Nasal swabs were collected from each rabbit for P. multocida isolation and identification. Isolates were further characterized by capsular and somatic antigens and genomic DNA fingerprinting. Thirty-nine P. multocida isolates were recovered from 553 rabbits (7%). Capsular typing was done by depolymerization of P. multocida capsule by Staphylococcus aureus hyaluronidase and by disc diffusion with mucopolysaccharidase enzymes (heparinase III, chondroitinase AC, and hyaluronidase). Thirty-one (79%) of the isolates were capsular type A, and 8 isolates (21%) had untypable (UT) capsules. The gel-diffusion precipitin test was used to determine the somatic type of P. multocida isolates. Nineteen isolates were somatic serotype 3 (49%), 12 were serotype 1 (31%), 1 was serotype 2, 2 were serotype 5, 2 were serotype 12 with a weak reaction to antiserum raised against serotype 7 (5%), and 1 was serotype 4. Two of the isolates (5%) were UT. Restriction endonuclease analysis of the DNA of the isolates revealed 7 distinct profiles by digestion with HindIII, and 12 profiles were obtained with HpaII, whereas digestion with EcoRI did not differentiate between any of the P. multocida DNA isolates studied. The DNA restriction endonuclease enzyme HpaII was found more useful for differentiating between DNA fingerprints of P. multocida rabbit isolates. However, no correlation between capsular type, somatic serotypes, and DNA fingerprints was seen in this study.     

Characterization and comparison of antimicrobial susceptibilities and outer membrane protein and plasmid DNA profiles of Pasteurella haemolytica and certain other members of the genus Pasteurella.

The outer membrane protein (OMP), plasmid, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Pasteurella haemolytica serotypes 1 through 12, a bovine isolate of P multocida, a chicken isolate of P multocida, and an unidentified Pasteurella species of bovine origin were examined. Isolates of P haemolytica serotypes belonging to the same biotype possessed similar OMP profiles. Biotype A isolates contained 2 prominent OMP of 43 kilodaltons (kD) and 29 kD, whereas biotype-T serotypes contained 3 major OMP of 43, 36, and 25 kD. The major OMP profiles of the 2 P multocida isolates and the unidentified Pasteurella species were different from each other and from P haemolytica isolates. Plasmid DNA screening indicated both plasmid-containing and plasmid-free P haemolytica and P multocida isolates. Multiple drug resistance was found in pasteurellae isolates with and without plasmids. However, a relationship between drug resistance and plasmid isolation was found in 3 of 4 haemolytica serotype 1 field isolates, all of which contained a 2.51-megadalton plasmid and had multiple drug resistance for benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, streptomycin, and tetracycline.     

PCR detection and analysis of Pasteurella multocida from the tonsils of slaughtered pigs in Vietnam

A total of 36 tonsil swab samples were collected from healthy swine prior to slaughter at the abattoirs in Can tho and Tien giang provinces of Southern Vietnam. The presence of Pasteurella multocida in these samples was detected by the combination of direct cultivation and isolation, mouse inoculation and the polymerase chain reaction (PM-PCR). P. multocida was detected in 16 samples by PCR, with 17 strains ultimately isolated. All samples were negative for serogroup B by HSB-PCR and conventional serotyping, with isolates identified as A:3, D:1 or D:3. In addition, all samples were determined to be negative for the P. multocida toxin (PMT). Characterisation of isolated P. multocida by REP-PCR and biotyping revealed nine distinct REP profiles and seven biotypes among the 17 isolates. Some correlation was seen with P. multocida isolated from a previous Australian outbreak of acute swine pasteurellosis, and those isolated from fowl cholera outbreaks in Vietnamese poultry.     

DNA fingerprinting for differentiation of field isolates from reference vaccine strains of Pasteurella multocida in turkeys

The genomes from field isolates of Pasteurella multocida in turkeys and those of P multocida reference CU and M9 vaccine strains were analyzed and compared after cleavage with restriction endonucleases. The electrophoretic profiles obtained with DNA fragments from field isolates and vaccine strains of the same serotype were characteristic and reproducible. These features indicated the existence of differences among the isolates of the same serotype that cannot currently be detected, using available serotyping methods. However, several field isolates had electrophoretic profiles similar to those of either CU or M9 vaccine strain. It was concluded that restriction endonuclease analysis of DNA genomes from P multocida isolated from turkeys provides the information for differentiation of field isolates from vaccine strains of the same serotype.     

Use of ELISA to detect toxigenic Pasteurella multocida in atrophic rhinitis in swine.

The use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a means of detecting dermonecrotoxin-producing strains of Pasteurella multocida was investigated. The assay was evaluated as a means to identify toxigenic P. multocida isolates recovered from nasal secretions of swine with atrophic rhinitis. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA for detecting dermonecrotoxin-producing P. multocida strains were compared to those of mouse-inoculation and cytotoxicity assays. The ELISA was highly sensitive and more specific than animal inoculation or tissue culture assay and is thus a more effective method for screening swine herds for the presence of toxigenic strains of P. multocida. The ELISA is a rapid, effective, economical way to identify toxigenic P. multocida isolates.     

Molecular Variability among Strains of Pasteurella multocida Isolated from an Outbreak of Haemorrhagic Septicaemia in India

The applicability of conventional and molecular methods for rapid detection and differentiation of Pasteurella multocida serogroup B isolates involved in an outbreak of haemorrhagic septicaemia affecting Indian buffaloes, was studied. Five isolates were obtained and were subjected to phenotypic and genotypic characterization. None of the five isolates could be differentiated on the basis of cultural, biochemical, pathogenicity and antimicrobial sensitivity patterns. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based techniques were found to be specific and sensitive for rapid detection and differentiation of isolates. Repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP-) PCR, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC-) PCR and single-primer PCR differentiated all the five isolates into different profiles. All the isolates involved in the outbreak were found to have a genetic profile different from standard P. multocida strain (P52). However, three isolates had similar profiles, whereas each of the remaining two had a different profile. The study indicates the involvement of multiple strains of P. multocida in a single outbreak of haemorrhagic septicaemia in buffaloes. The results also indicate that molecular methods of detection and typing are superior to conventional methods for rapid epidemiological investigations of haemorrhagic septicaemia.     

Molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella typhimurium DTI04 on Ontario swine farms.

This study was conducted to examine antimicrobial resistances, plasmid profiles, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns of 80 Salmonella Typhimurium (including var. Copenhagen) DT104 strains (including DT104a and DT104b) recovered from pig and environmental fecal samples on 17 swine farms in Ontario. No resistance was observed to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, apramycin, carbadox, cephalothin, ceftriaxone, ceftiofur, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim, and tobramycin. However, the isolates exhibited resistance against 4 to 10 antimicrobials with the most frequent resistance being to sulfonamides (Su), ampicillin (A), streptomycin (S), spectinomycin (Sp), chloramphenicol (C), tetracycline (T), and florfenicol (F). Thirteen distinct resistance patterns were determined but 88% of isolates shared the typical resistance pattern "ACSpSSuT." Twelve different plasmid profiles were observed; the 62 MDa virulence-associated plasmid was detected in 95% of the isolates. The 2.1 MDa plasmid was the second most frequent one, which was harbored by 65% isolates. The isolates were classified into 23 distinct genotypes by PFGE-SpeI + BlnI when difference in at least one fragment was defined as a distinct genotype. In total, 39 distinct "types" were observed when defining a "type" based on the combination of antimicrobial resistance, plasmid pattern, and PFGE-SpeI + BlnI for each isolate. The highest diversity was 0.96 (95% CI: 0.92, 0.96) for the "type" described above followed by 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88, 0.93) for PFGE-SpeI + BlnI. The diversity of DT104 isolates indicates there might be multiple sources for this microorganism on swine farms. This knowledge might be used to track these sources, as well as to study the extent of human salmonellosis attributed to pork compared to food products derived from other food-producing animals.     

A study of the heterogeneity of isolates of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae from sheep in New Zealand.

To investigate the heterogeneity of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, sixty isolates from three sheep on each of twenty farms were examined by restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) and SDS-PAGE. All were found to be different except for three isolates obtained from one farm. The protein and REA patterns of individual isolates were both highly reproducible and remained unchanged following long term passage (approximately 400 generations) in vitro. No plasmids were detected in the twelve strains which were examined and when two isolates were co-cultured in vitro, no genetic interchange, as judged by changes in REA patterns were detected. Since the heterogeneity of M. ovipneumoniae when examined by SDS-PAGE is too great to allow groups to be recognised, it could be advantageous for this purpose if only surface proteins were compared. As a preliminary step to this end we have identified several surface proteins of M. ovipneumoniae and found that some are common to all strains, one surface protein was shared by five of the eight strains examined and another was unique to one strain. This approach has the potential to allow the recognition of grouping of M. ovipneumoniae isolates.