Use of 16S rRNA sequencing for identification of Actinobacillus ureae isolated from a cerebrospinal fluid sample. (41/272)

Actinobacillus ureae, previously Pasteurella ureae, has on rare occasions been described as a cause of human infection. Owing to its rarity, it may not be easily identified in clinical microbiology laboratories by standard tests. This report describes a patient with acute bacterial meningitis due to A. ureae. The identity of the isolate was determined by means of DNA sequence analysis of a portion of the 16S rRNA gene.  (+info)

Circulating cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha interleukin-1beta, and interferon-gamma in pigs infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. (42/272)

This study evaluated the time course of systemic cytokine concentrations in an acute model of pneumonia in pigs challenged intranasally with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Feed intake and serum cortisol were measured as overt clinical and systemic markers of disease onset, respectively, and serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interferon-gamma as representative systemic inflammatory markers. Crossbred barrows (n = 15), approximately 5 wk of age, were used in the study. Pigs were housed in an environmentally controlled facility at 25 degrees C and under continuous illumination in pens measuring approximately 1.5 m2. Pigs had free access to water and an unmedicated diet. Approximately 1 wk prior to disease challenge, pigs were fitted nonsurgically with venous catheters. At challenge, pigs were given 5 x 10(8) CFU Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae intranasally (n = 8) or a similar volume of sterile growth media intranasally (Control; n = 7). Feed intake was estimated by the change in feeder weight at 12-h intervals from -12 to 72 h relative to the time of disease challenge. Blood sampling began 12 h prior to challenge and continued until 72 h after challenge. Pigs were sampled at -12, -6, and 0 h, then at 90-min intervals until 12-h post-challenge, continuing at 3-h intervals until 24-h post-challenge, then again at 6-h intervals until 72 h after challenge. Serum was harvested and frozen until assayed for cortisol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interferon-gamma. Feed intake was reduced in Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae pigs during the intervals 0 to 12 h (P < 0.001), 24 to 36 h (P < 0.001), 48 to 60 h (P <0.05), and 60 to 72 h (P < 0.05). TheActnobacillus pleuropneumoniae-challenged pigs had elevated serum cortisol from 180-min to 18-h post-challenge (P < 0.001) and also at 36 (P < 0.05), 42 (P < 0.001), and 60 (P < 0.05) h following infection. Circulating cytokines were not affected by disease challenge. Thus, in this experimental model of pneumonia, weaned pigs demonstrated expected behavioral and endocrine characteristics of disease in the absence of significant changes in circulating inflammatory cytokines.  (+info)

Influence of porcine Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae infection and dexamethasone on the pharmacokinetic parameters of enrofloxacin. (43/272)

The impact of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP) infection in swine on the pharmacokinetic parameters of enrofloxacin were determined. Twenty-four animals were used in a 2 x 2 factorial of treatment groups (six animals per group) to determine the impact of APP-induced inflammation and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone on enrofloxacin pharmacokinetic parameters. All animals received enrofloxacin as a single intravenous dose (5 mg/kg). Administration of dexamethasone was associated with an increase in clearance of enrofloxacin Clearance of enrofloxacin was not affected by APP. Volume of distribution at steady state was significantly increased in the dexamethasone-treated pigs. Volume of distribution at steady state was decreased by APP infection. Dexamethasone significantly increased the terminal elimination half-life of enrofloxacin. APP infection decreased the terminal elimination half-life of enrofloxacin in the infected pigs. Infection and dexamethasone significantly decreased the urine enrofloxacin/creatinine and ciprofloxacin/creatinine ratios. This study shows that APP infection does affect plasma pharmacokinetic parameters. Dexamethasone and APP infection may reduce renal clearance of enrofloxacin with a compensatory increase in intestinal clearance. Neither infection nor dexamethasone altered the metabolism of enrofloxacin to ciprofloxacin, the principal metabolite of enrofloxacin.  (+info)

Population structure and genetic diversity of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strains isolated from localized juvenile periodontitis patients. (44/272)

The phylogeny of 20 Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans strains isolated from patients with localized juvenile periodontitis (LJP) was investigated by using partial sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes, arbitrarily primed PCR (AP-PCR), and four additional PCR assays that amplified polymorphic regions in the leukotoxin (lkt), cytolethal distending toxin (cdt), major fimbrial subunit (flp-1), and serotype-specific O polysaccharide gene clusters. Our analysis also included four strains isolated from healthy subjects and nine reference strains. We found that A. actinomycetemcomitans strains comprised three major phylogenetic lineages. One lineage consisted of serotype b strains, a second lineage consisted of serotype c strains, and a third lineage consisted of serotype a, d, e, and f strains. 16S rRNA sequences within each lineage were highly conserved (<1% base substitutions), whereas sequences between lineages were exceptionally divergent (1.9 to 5.0% substitutions). Two strains exhibited 16S rRNA sequences that were even more distantly related to those of the three major lineages (2.7 to 6.7% substitutions), indicating that additional minor lineages or variants exist. The distribution of 16S rRNA sequences and lkt, cdt, flp-1, and AP-PCR genotypes was consistent with a clonal population structure, with little evidence of assortative recombination between strains of different serotypes. Strains from all three major lineages were recovered from LJP patients, suggesting that phylogenetically diverse strains of A. actinomycetemcomitans carry pathogenic potential.  (+info)

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella choleraesuis recovered from Taiwanese swine. (45/272)

Minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) were determined for ampicillin, ceftiofur, cephalothin, chloramphenicol, enrofloxacin, gentamicin, lincomycin, lincospectin (lincomycin/spectinomycin), neomycin, premafloxacin, spectinomycin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, and tetracycline against a total of 180 isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella choleraesuis (60 each) clinically isolated from pigs on farms in Taiwan from 1994 to 1996. No more than 3 isolates per farm were used. Ceftiofur had the highest activity in vitro against isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae, E. coli, and S. choleraesuis, with MIC90 values of 0.03, 2, and 1 microg/ml, respectively. Premafloxacin was highly active against isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae, E. coli, and S. choleraesuis, with MIC90 values of 2, 8, and 0.5 microg/ml, respectively, which were lower than those with enrofloxacin (MIC90 8, 32, and 2 microg/ml, respectively). Neomycin was moderately active against A. pleuropneumoniae and E. coli, with MIC90 values of 8 and 64 microg/ml, respectively, but was inactive with S. choleraesuis. Gentamicin showed high activity against A. pleuropneumoniae (MIC90 of 2 microg/ml) but was only moderately active with E. coli and S. choleraesuis (MIC90 of 64 and 32 microg/ml). Cephalothin was highly active against isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae (MIC90 of 1 microg/ml) but was inactive with E. coli (MIC90 of 128 microg/ml). Lincomycin had moderate activity (MIC90 of 32 microg/ml) against A. pleuropneumoniae. Chloramphenicol, lincomycin, and tetracycline were inactive with E. coli and S. choleraesuis (MIC90 > 128 microg/ml). In conclusion, ceftiofur and premafloxacin were highly active against isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae, E. coli, and S. choleraesuis, enrofloxacin and gentamicin were highly to moderately active; cephalothin was highly active against A. pleuropneumoniae and moderately active against S. cholearesuis; chloramphenicol, lincomycin, and tetracycline were active only with A. pleuropneumoniae; neomycin was moderately active against A. pleuropneumoniae and E. coli. The other antimicrobials tested were inactive.  (+info)

Expression of nitric oxide synthase 2 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in swine naturally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. (46/272)

Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) were detected and localized in 15 pigs with naturally occurring pleuropneumonia by use of in situ hybridization with a nonradioactive digoxigenin-labeled cDNA probe. Two cDNA probes 491 and 219 base pairs for NOS2 and TNF-alpha, respectively, were generated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. All 15 pigs infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae had distinct positive hybridization signals for NOS2 and TNF-alpha. Strong hybridization signals for both NOS2 and TNF-alpha were evident in degenerate alveolar leukocytes bordering zones of coagulative necrosis and in alveolar spaces. NOS2 nucleic acids were detected in neutrophils and macrophages. In situ hybridization of serial sections of lung tissue revealed numerous cells positive for NOS2 and TNF-alpha, suggesting that NOS2 and TNF-alpha expression may play a role in the pathophysiology of pleuropneumonia.  (+info)

The role of macrophages in the induction of murine immune response to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans. (47/272)

The aim of this study was to determine the role of macrophages in the Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans-induced murine immune response. BALB/c mice were given carrageenan solution by intraperitoneal injection before immunisation with heat-killed A. actinomycetemcomitans. Mice immunised with antigens and phosphate-buffered saline served as positive and negative controls, respectively. One week after the last immunisation, the delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response was assessed by measurement of footpad swelling. Serum IgG and IgM anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans antibody levels and culture supernate levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma were determined by ELISA. The diameter of abscess formation was determined every 5 days. Sham-immunised spleen cells were transferred to carrageenan-untreated recipients (groups A and B) and to carrageenan-treated recipients (group D). Antigen-immunised spleen cells were transferred to carrageenan-untreated (group C) and carrageenan-treated (group E) recipients. The carrageenan-treated recipients in groups F and G received macrophages from antigen- and sham-immunised mice respectively. All mice except those in group A were immunised with antigen 24 h after cell transfer. After 1 week, a partial suppression of DTH response, reduced levels of IFN-gamma, serum IgG and IgM anti-A. actinomycetemcomitans antibodies and delayed healing were seen in carrageenan-treated mice when compared with the positive control. The immune response to A. actinomycetemcomitans in groups A, B and D was lower than that in groups C and E. Healing of the lesion in the former groups was also delayed when compared with the latter groups. The immune response and the healing of the lesion could be partially restored in carrageenan-treated mice that received antigen-pulsed macrophages (group F) but not in those that received naive macrophages (group G). These results suggest that macrophages play a partial role in the induction of the murine immune response to A. actinomycetemcomitans.  (+info)

Final classification of Bisgaard taxon 9 as Actinobacillus arthritidis sp. nov. and recognition of a novel genomospecies for equine strains of Actinobacillus lignieresii. (48/272)

Phenotypic characterization of bacteria from diseased and healthy horses identified 18 isolates as Bisgaard taxon 9 and 11 isolates as Actinobacillus lignieresii. All strains of taxon 9 were alpha-galactosidase- and raffinose-positive and showed variable fermentation of (+)L-arabinose and (-)D-sorbitol. Strains of A. lignieresii were negative for these characteristics, with the exception of raffinose. Two strains from the (-)D-sorbitol-negative group of taxon 9 showed a 16S rRNA similarity of 99-6%, while 99.5% similarity was found between two strains of the (-)D-sorbitol-positive group. DNA-DNA hybridization between the two strains representing the (-)D-sorbitol-negative group showed 98% binding, and their closest relationship was to a strain of A. lignieresii (64%). The two strains of the (-)D-sorbitol-positive group showed 83% binding and were related to the (-)D-sorbitol-negative group at a 76% DNA binding level. Actinobacillus arthritidis sp. nov. is proposed for 12 strains of the (-)D-sorbitol-positive group. Actinobacillus genomospecies 2 is suggested for the six strains of the (-)D-sorbitol-negative group. Phenotypically, strains of A. arthritidis and Actinobacillus genomospecies 2 differ in (-)D-sorbitol fermentation and can be separated from Actinobacillus equuli by being trehalose-negative, while a positive reaction for alpha-galactosidase separates the taxa from A. lignieresii. The type strain of A. arthritidis, CCUG 24862T, was isolated from a joint of a horse. Three equine isolates of A. lignieresii that could not be separated from the type strain by means of phenotypic characteristics showed 98.6-100% 16S rRNA similarity, but only 96.4-96.7% similarity to the type strain. DNA-DNA hybridization between two strains of this group showed 92% binding but only 70% binding to the type strain of A. lignieresii. Consequently, these equine isolates of A. lignieresii represent a new genomospecies of Actinobacillus, suggested as genomospecies 1 because phenotypic characteristics are not presently available to separate it from the type strain of A. lignieresii.  (+info)