GROUPING OF ACTINOBACILLUS PLEUROPNEUMONIAE STRAINS OF SEROTYPE-1 THROUGH SEROTYPE-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-cells suspension of A. pleropneumoniae 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. © 1990.