Genetic diversity of Pasteurella multocida fowl cholera isolates as demonstrated by ribotyping and 16S rRNA and partial atpD sequence comparisons. (41/346)

The genetic diversity of Pasteurella multocida, the aetiological agent of fowl cholera, was investigated. The strain collection comprised 69 clinical isolates representing a wide spectrum of hosts and geographic origin. The three type strains for the subspecies of P. multocida were also included. Avian isolates of P. multocida subsp. multocida and P. multocida subsp. septica did not represent separate lines by HpaII ribotyping and the two type strains of mammalian origin (porcine and cat bite) seemed to be representative of avian strains of P. multocida subspp. multocida and septica. By ribotyping, all P. multocida subsp. gallicida strains, except one chicken isolate and the type strain, clustered together. This indicated that the bovine type strain was not representative of this subspecies and that most strains of P. multocida subsp. gallicida are genetically related and may be distantly related to other P. multocida isolates, including those of avian origin. By 16S rRNA and atpD sequence comparisons of selected strains, including both P. multocida isolated from birds and mammals and selected distantly related Pasteurella species associated with birds and mammals, it was found that P. multocida is monophyletic. Extended DNA-DNA hybridizations are highly indicated since strains may exist which would connect the existing subspecies at species level. The considerable genetic diversity of P. multocida fowl cholera isolates is probably related to the clonal nature of this organism, resulting in many divergent lines.  (+info)

Isolation of Pasteurella multocida during an outbreak of infectious septicemia in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). (42/346)

In May 1994, about fifty Japanese quails out of ninety being bred for experimental purposes at Miyazaki University died of acute septicemia within a few days. At autopsy, there were no gross pathological lesions, however, severe bacteremia was observed in all cases. Bacterial examination revealed the presence of Pasteurella multocida in blood and several organs in pure culture and they were of Carter's capsular type A, Heddleston's type 3-4 and Namioka's type O-8-9. The LD50 of bacteria in quails and mice were 4.3 x 10(4) cfu and 3.9 x 10(2) cfu, respectively. All of the three chickens experimentally infected with 4 x 10(4) of the isolate died within 20 hr after the infection and several bacteria were recovered from their blood and organs. This, to our knowledge, is the first report on an outbreak of fowl cholera in Japanese quails in Japan.  (+info)

Tetracycline resistance genes in isolates of Pasteurella multocida, Mannheimia haemolytica, Mannheimia glucosida and Mannheimia varigena from bovine and swine respiratory disease: intergeneric spread of the tet(H) plasmid pMHT1. (43/346)

Tetracycline-resistant isolates of Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia spp. from respiratory diseases in cattle and swine were investigated for the classes of tet gene and their chromosomal or plasmid location. The 34 isolates comprised eight P. multocida, 23 Mannheimia haemolytica, two Mannheimia varigena and a single Mannheimia glucosida isolate. Identification of the tet genes was achieved by PCR analysis and hybridization with specific probes. Transformation and hybridization experiments served to confirm the plasmid location of tet genes. Selected tet genes and their adjacent regions were sequenced. The tet genes tet(B), tet(G) and tet(H) were detected. The gene tet(H) was present in 26 isolates. The 4.4 kb tet(H)-carrying plasmid pMHT1 was detected in six isolates representing all four species. In the remaining 28 isolates, copies of tet(B), tet(G) and tet(H) were identified as chromosomal. No correlation between the tet gene type and the MIC of tetracycline, or between the number of tet gene copies and the MIC of tetracycline was observed. Tetracycline resistance in P. multocida and Mannheimia spp. is mediated by at least three different tet genes. A new type of tet(H)- carrying plasmid, pMHT1, was identified. The detection of pMHT1 in M. glucosida and M. varigena is the first report of resistance plasmids in isolates of these two species. For the first time, tet(G) genes were detected in members of the family Pasteurellaceae.  (+info)

Localization of functional domains of the mitogenic toxin of Pasteurella multocida. (44/346)

The locations of the catalytic and receptor-binding domains of the Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) were investigated. N- and C-terminal fragments of PMT were cloned and expressed as fusion proteins with affinity tags. Purified fusion proteins were assessed in suitable assays for catalytic activity and cell-binding ability. A C-terminal fragment (amino acids 681 to 1285) was catalytically active. When microinjected into quiescent Swiss 3T3 cells, it induced changes in cell morphology typical of toxin-treated cells and stimulated DNA synthesis. An N-terminal fragment with a His tag at the C terminus (amino acids 1 to 506) competed with full-length toxin for binding to surface receptors and therefore contains the cell-binding domain. The inactive mutant containing a mutation near the C terminus (C1165S) also bound to cells in this assay. Polyclonal antibodies raised to the N-terminal PMT region bound efficiently to full-length native toxin, suggesting that the N terminus is surface located. Antibodies to the C terminus of PMT were microinjected into cells and inhibited the activity of toxin added subsequently to the medium, confirming that the C terminus contains the active site. Analysis of the PMT sequence predicted a putative transmembrane domain with predicted hydrophobic and amphipathic helices near the N terminus over the region of homology to the cytotoxic necrotizing factors. The C-terminal end of PMT was predicted to be a mixed alpha/beta domain, a structure commonly found in catalytic domains. Homology to proteins of known structure and threading calculations supported these assignments.  (+info)

Identification and molecular cloning of a heparosan synthase from Pasteurella multocida type D. (45/346)

Pasteurella multocida Type D, a causative agent of atrophic rhinitis in swine and pasteurellosis in other domestic animals, produces an extracellular polysaccharide capsule that is a putative virulence factor. It was reported previously that the capsule was removed by treating microbes with heparin lyase III. We molecularly cloned a 617-residue enzyme, pmHS, which is a heparosan (nonsulfated, unepimerized heparin) synthase. Recombinant Escherichia coli-derived pmHS catalyzes the polymerization of the monosaccharides from UDP-GlcNAc and UDP-GlcUA. Other structurally related sugar nucleotides did not substitute. Synthase activity was stimulated about 7-25-fold by the addition of an exogenous polymer acceptor. Molecules composed of approximately 500-3,000 sugar residues were produced in vitro. The polysaccharide was sensitive to the action of heparin lyase III but resistant to hyaluronan lyase. The sequence of the pmHS enzyme is not very similar to the vertebrate heparin/heparan sulfate glycosyltransferases, EXT1 and 2, or to other Pasteurella glycosaminoglycan synthases that produce hyaluronan or chondroitin. The pmHS enzyme is the first microbial dual-action glycosyltransferase to be described that forms a polysaccharide composed of beta4GlcUA-alpha4GlcNAc disaccharide repeats. In contrast, heparosan biosynthesis in E. coli K5 requires at least two separate polypeptides, KfiA and KfiC, to catalyze the same polymerization reaction.  (+info)

Treatment of pigs experimentally infected with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae with various antibiotics. (46/346)

The authors have performed a comparative study of the efficacy of various in-feed medications for the treatment of 5- to 6-week-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) piglets experimentally infected on day 1 with Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, on day 8 with Pasteurella multocida (serotype A), and on day 15 with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (serotype 2). The treatment started on day 9 and continued for 12 consecutive days, then the piglets were euthanized for examination of macroscopic, histologic, and pathologic lesions and for the presence of mycoplasmas and bacteria in the lungs. Based on the results of clinical observations (respiratory signs, rectal temperature, body weight gain, and feed conversion efficiency), macroscopic and histologic lesions of the lungs, and microbiologic findings, the best results were obtained by treatment of pigs with Econor + chlortetracycline, followed by Tetramutin, Pulmotil, Cyfac, and lincomycin + chlortetracycline.  (+info)

Typing of Pasteurella multocida isolated from pigs with and without porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome. (47/346)

Porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS) is a sporadic, usually fatal disease of growing and finishing pigs that has been recognized in many pig-producing countries. Pasteurella multocida strains isolated from 15 pigs with PDNS and 51 pigs without PDNS were characterized by capsule and somatic antigen typing, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAP-D) typing, and restriction analysis of genomic DNA using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). While capsular, somatic, and RAP-D typing did not discriminate PDNS isolates from non-PDNS isolates, all of the isolates from PDNS cases showed an identical ApaI PFGE restriction pattern. This pattern was also found in a high proportion (36%) of P. multocida strains isolated from non-PDNS cases. Isolation of a single variant of P. multocida from tissues of pigs with PDNS warrants further investigation into the possible role of these bacteria in the etiology of the disease.  (+info)

Identification of fur and fldA homologs and a Pasteurella multocida tbpA homolog in Histophilus ovis and effects of iron availability on their transcription. (48/346)

tbpA, fur, and fldA homologs from two strains (9L and 3384Y) of the sheep pathogen Histophilus ovis were sequenced. The predicted TbpA proteins of these strains are homologs of the Pasteurella multocida TbpA protein and collectively represent the second example of a new subfamily of TonB-dependent receptors. tbpA transcripts were readily detected by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR with RNA isolated from strain 9L grown under iron-restricted conditions in the presence or absence of bovine transferrin (Tf). However, with strain 3384Y and depending on the primer pair, tbpA transcripts were detected by RT-PCR predominantly when the RNA was from cells grown under iron-restricted conditions in the presence of bovine Tf. In both strains, the fldA homolog was found to be immediately upstream of fur and, based on RT-PCR, these genes are transcribed as a single unit; the availability of iron and the presence or absence of bovine Tf in the growth medium had no apparent effect on the relative amounts of the fldA-fur transcripts.  (+info)