72 research outputs found

    Multilocus sequence typing of a global collection of pasteurella multocida isolates from cattle and other host species demonstrates niche association

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    Background- Pasteurella multocida causes disease in many host species throughout the world. In bovids, it contributes to bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and causes haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS). Previous studies have suggested that BRD-associated P. multocida isolates are of limited diversity. A multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for P. multocida was used to determine whether the low levels of diversity reported are due to the limited discriminatory power of the typing method used, restricted sample selection or true niche association. Bovine respiratory isolates of P. multocida (n = 133) from the UK, the USA and France, collected between 1984 and 2008 from both healthy and clinically affected animals, were typed using MLST. Isolates of P. multocida from cases of HS, isolates from other host species and data from the MLST database were used as comparison. Results - Bovine respiratory isolates were found to be clonal (ISA 0.45) with 105/128 belonging to clonal complex 13 (CC13). HS isolates were not related to bovine respiratory isolates. Of the host species studied, the majority had their own unique sequence types (STs), with few STs being shared across host species, although there was some cross over between porcine and bovine respiratory isolates. Avian, ovine and porcine isolates showed greater levels of diversity compared to cattle respiratory isolates, despite more limited geographic origins. Conclusions - The homogeneity of STs of bovine respiratory P. multocida observed, and the differences between these and P. multocida subpopulations from bovine non-respiratory isolates and non-bovine hosts may indicate niche association

    Streptococcus suis pathogenesis—A diverse array of virulence factors for a zoonotic lifestyle

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    Streptococcus suis is a major cause of respiratory tract and invasive infections in pigs and is responsible for a substantial disease burden in the pig industry. S. suis is also a significant cause of bacterial meningitis in humans, particularly in South East Asia. S. suis expresses a wide array of virulence factors, and although many are described as being required for disease, no single factor has been demonstrated to be absolutely required. The lack of uniform distribution of known virulence factors among individual strains and lack of evidence that any particular virulence factor is essential for disease makes the development of vaccines and treatments challenging. Here we review the current understanding of S. suis virulence factors and their role in the pathogenesis of this important zoonotic pathogen.No Full Tex

    Serovar profiling of Haemophilus parasuis on Australian farms by sampling live pigs

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    Objective: Investigate the diversity of serovars of Haemophilus parasuis (Hps) present in Australian pig herds. Design: Nasal swabs were used to obtain multiple isolates of Hps, which were grouped first by genotyping and then by serotyping representative isolates. Procedure: Swabs were taken from the nasal cavity of just-weaned healthy pigs from multiparous sows on 12 farms and from post-weaned pigs of multiparous sows on 1 farm. On 5 of the 13 farms, nasal swabs were also obtained from pigs showing clinical signs suggestive of Glässer's disease. On a further 7 farms, nasal swabs were obtained only from pigs with clinical signs suggestive of Glässer's disease. Results: A total of 556 Hps isolates were genotyped, and 150 isolates were serotyped. Hps was detected on 19 of the 20 farms, including 2 farms with a long history of freedom from Glässer's disease. Isolates of Hps belonging to serovars regarded as potentially pathogenic were obtained from healthy pigs at weaning on 8 of the 10 farms with a history of Glässer's disease outbreaks. Sampling 213 sick pigs yielded 115 isolates of Hps, 99 of which belonged to serovars that were either potentially pathogenic or of unknown pathogenicity. Only 16 isolates from these 213 sick pigs were of a serovar known to be non-pathogenic. Conclusion: Healthy pigs contain a range of Hps serovars, even on farms free of Glässer's disease. Nasal swabbing of both healthy and sick pigs seems a useful method of serovar profiling of farms. © 2010 The State of Queensland (Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation). Journal compilatio

    Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae: The molecular determinants of virulence and pathogenesis

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    Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, is responsible for high economic losses in swine herds across the globe. Pleuropneumonia is characterized by severe respiratory distress and high mortality. The knowledge about the interaction between bacterium and host within the porcine respiratory tract has improved significantly in recent years. A. pleuropneumoniae expresses multiple virulence factors, which are required for colonization, immune clearance, and tissue damage. Although vaccines are used to protect swine herds against A. pleuropneumoniae infection, they do not offer complete coverage, and often only protect against the serovar, or serovars, used to prepare the vaccine. This review will summarize the role of individual A. pleuropneumoniae virulence factors that are required during key stages of pathogenesis and disease progression, and highlight progress made toward developing effective and broadly protective vaccines against an organism of great importance to global agriculture and food production.No Full Tex

    Validation of a real-time PCR for Haemophilus parasuis

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    Aims: To validate a real-time PCR test for the diagnosis of Glässer's disease, a major pig disease caused by Haemophilus parasuis. Methods and Results: The specificity of a real-time PCR amplifying the inf B gene was validated with 68 H. parasuis isolates and 36 strains of closely related species. As well, 239 samples of DNA from tissues and fluids of 16 experimentally challenged animals were tested with the real-time PCR, and the results were compared with culture and a conventional PCR. The real-time PCR produced significantly more positive results than the conventional PCR (165 vs 86). Conclusions: The sensitivity of the real-time PCR combined with high specificity makes it a very valuable tool for the diagnosis of Glässer's disease. Significance and Impact of Study: This new method will improve the ability of laboratories to diagnose Glässer's disease, especially in laboratories where the culture method for H. parasuis is not optimal
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