Role of Pasteurella pneumotropica and Mycoplasma pulmonis in Murine Pneumonia

Pneumonia caused by Mycoplasma pulmonis and Pasteurella pneumotropica was studied in conventional, specific pathogen-free (SPF), and germ-free mice. When P. pneumotropica was serially passed in conventional mice, M. pulmonis, as well as P. pneumotropica, was recovered from mice with gross lesions. When M. pulmonis was serially passed in conventional mice, both organisms were recovered. SPF mice given a nasal instillation of M. pulmonis alone, P. pneumotropica alone, or a combination of the two developed pneumonia when both organisms were present. These findings suggested that both organisms contribute to typical murine pneumonia. That M. pulmonis might be an L form of P. pneumotropica was suggested because some SPF mice inoculated with either organism yielded both on culture. This possibility was investigated with mole per cent guanine plus cytosine (GC) content and nucleic acid hybridization techniques. The GC content of P. pneumotropica is 42.2 mole per cent and that of M. pulmonis is 28.6 mole per cent. No specific hybrids between deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from M. pulmonis and DNA from P. pneumotropica were detected. This and the wide disparity in GC content showed that M. pulmonis is not an L form of P. pneumotropica. In germ-free mice, intranasal instillation with either organism alone produced pneumonia. The lesions produced when each organism was inoculated independently were characterized by areas of consolidation with perivascular and peribronchial lymphocytic infiltration. Qualitatively, the lesions produced when both organisms were inoculated simultaneously more closely resembled those seen in naturally occurring murine pneumonia. Statistical analysis indicated that the quantitative effect of the two organisms was additive. The indirect fluorescent antibody technique was used to locate organisms in lung tissue sections. M. pulmonis localized in the bronchial epithelium and P. pneumotropica localized in the alveolar lesions.     

Proliferation of Pasteurella pneumotropica at oestrus in the vagina of rats

Using a colony of Wistar-Imamichi rats contaminated with P. pneumotropica, the vaginal microflora was qualitatively and quantitatively investigated by swabbing. P. pneumotropica was the most dominant organism in the majority of rats examined. The population of P. pneumotropica and indigenous bacteria increased significantly higher at oestrus than in other oestrous stages. By the vaginal flushing technique changes in the population of P. pneumotropica and total bacteria, and changes in vaginal cell type and bacterial counts adhering to vaginal epithelial cells were consecutively investigated. The populations of P. pneumotropica and total bacteria were maximal at oestrus. The increase was correlated with an increase in cornified non-nucleated cells, with large numbers of adherent Gram-negative coccobacilli. The findings indicate that the vagina is a suitable site for colonization by P. pneumotropica in adult female rats, and that proliferation of P. pneumotropica may be due to increased affinity of the organism for cornified non-nucleated cells.     

Effect of oestrogen on Pasteurella pneumotropica in rat vagina

The effects of ovarian hormones on the vaginal population of Pasteurella pneumotropica in rats were investigated. Specified-pathogen-free adult female Wistar-Imamichi rats with a 4 day oestrous cycle were inoculated with P. pneumotropica in the vagina. Cyclic changes in the vaginal population of P. pneumotropica were not observed in ovariectomized rats and the bacterial population was at a similar level to that at normal dioestrus. Administration of oestrogen to ovariectomized rats caused an increase in the numbers of P. pneumotropica and total bacteria in the vagina nearly equal to that at oestrus in intact rats. The numbers of these organisms in the vagina of ovariectomized rats treated with progesterone did not change and were similar to those of control ovariectomized rats treated with sesame oil. Vaginal smears of ovariectomized rats treated with oestrogen were characterized by abundant cornified non-nucleated epithelial cells with many adherent Gram-negative coccobacilli and were similar to smears from intact rats at oestrus. These findings suggest that the proliferation of P. pneumotropica at oestrus in rat vagina may be primarily due to the environment provided by the degeneration of vaginal epithelial cells promoted by oestrogen secretion from the ovaries.     

Identification procedure for Pasteurella pneumotropica in microbiologic monitoring of laboratory animals.

Discrepancies have been recognized in the identification of Pasteurella pneumotropica between testing laboratories. To determine the causes of the differences and to propose a reliable identification procedure for P. pneumotropica, a working group was organized and 69 isolates identified or suspected as P. pneumotropica were collected from 8 laboratories in Japan. These isolates were examined by colony morphology, Gram-staining, the slide agglutination test using two antisera (ATCC35149 and MaR), two commercially available biochemical test kits (ID test, API20NE) and two primer sets of PCR tests (Wang PCR, CIEA PCR). The 69 isolates and two reference strains were divided into 10 groups by test results. No single procedure for P. pneumotropica identification was found. Among tested isolates, large differences were not observed by colony morphology and Gram-straining except for colony colors that depended on their biotypes. Sixty-eight out of 69 isolates were positive by the slide agglutination test using two antisera except for one isolate that tested with one antiserum. The ID test identified 61 out of 69 isolates as P. pneumotropica and there was no large difference from the results of CIEA PCR. From these results, we recommend the combination of colony observation, Gram-straining, the slide agglutination tests with two antisera and biochemical test using the ID test for practical and reliable identification of this organism.     

Vesnarinone Represses the Fibrotic Changes in Murine Lung Injury Induced by Bleomycin

We investigated the potential usefulness of vesnarinone, a novel cytokine inhibitor, for the treatment of lung fibrosis using a murine model of bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Mice were fed a control diet (n=42), or a diet containing low (n=42) or high (n=42) dose of vesnarinone. Dietary intake of vesnarinone minimized the BLM toxicity as reflected by significant decreases in numbers of inflammatory cells, KC, and soluble TNF receptors in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. A quantitative evaluation of histology demonstrated significantly mild lung parenchymal lesions in BLM-treated mice fed with diet containing high dose of vesnarinone than in the control diet group. Consistent with the histopathology, hydroxyproline levels in lung tissue from BLM-treated mice fed with diet containing vesnarinone were significantly lower than that from mice fed with control diet. We concluded that vesnarinone inhibits BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis, at least in part, by the inhibition of acute lung injuries in the early phase.     

Affecting Pseudomonas aeruginosa Phenotypic Plasticity by Quorum Sensing Dysregulation Hampers Pathogenicity in Murine Chronic Lung Infection

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing (QS) activates the production of virulence factors, playing a critical role in pathogenesis. Multiple negative regulators modulate the timing and the extent of the QS response either in the pre-quorum or post-quorum phases of growth. This regulation likely increases P. aeruginosa phenotypic plasticity and population fitness, facilitating colonization of challenging environments such as higher organisms. Accordingly, in addition to the factors required for QS signals synthesis and response, also QS regulators have been proposed as targets for anti-virulence therapies. However, while it is known that P. aeruginosa mutants impaired in QS are attenuated in their pathogenic potential, the effect of mutations causing a dysregulated timing and/or magnitude of the QS response has been poorly investigated so far in animal models of infection. In order to investigate the impact of QS dysregulation on P. aeruginosa pathogenesis in a murine model of lung infection, the QteE and RsaL proteins have been selected as representatives of negative regulators controlling P. aeruginosa QS in the pre- and post-quorum periods, respectively. Results showed that the qteE mutation does not affect P. aeruginosa lethality and ability to establish chronic infection in mice, despite causing a premature QS response and enhanced virulence factors production in test tube cultures compared to the wild type. Conversely, the post-quorum dysregulation caused by the rsaL mutation hampers the establishment of P. aeruginosa chronic lung infection in mice without affecting the mortality rate. On the whole, this study contributes to a better understanding of the impact of QS regulation on P. aeruginosa phenotypic plasticity during the infection process. Possible fallouts of these findings in the anti-virulence therapy field are also discussed.     

Ultrastructural characteristics of the external surfaces of Pasteurella pneumotropica from mice and Pasteurella multocida from rabbits

The surface structures of the cells of Pasteurella pneumotropica from mice and Pasteurella multocida from rabbits were examined by transmission electron microscopy after ruthenium red staining and polycationic ferritin labelling. P. pneumotropica strains ATCC 35149 and K 79114 had slight extracellular fibrous materials associated with cell walls with ruthenium red staining. Ferritin labelling method revealed thick strands or sparsely ferritin-labelled materials on the cell surface of the strains. P. multocida strains Pm-78 and P-2440 had ferritin-labelled capsules surrounded with the cell wall. Strain Pm-78, which was serotyped as A:12, had a thick capsule, whereas serotype -:3 strain P-2440 had a thin and irregular capsule.     

嗜肺巴氏杆菌在实验大鼠和小鼠中的传染性研究

目的观察不同来源的嗜肺巴氏杆菌在实验大鼠和小鼠中的传染性.方法取源于野鼠、实验大鼠和小鼠的嗜肺巴氏杆菌3株,对30只受试大鼠和小鼠进行交叉人工感染,并于感染后不同时期取咽拭子分离培养,对感染前后菌株,应用RAPD-PCR、SDS-PAGE和Western blot进行基因型、蛋白和抗原成份比较,以及生物学特性的比较.结果受试实验动物对3株嗜肺巴氏杆菌均易感,被接种的动物能稳定携带嗜肺巴氏杆菌直到试验结束,重新分离的嗜肺巴氏杆菌在生物学特性、蛋白成份、抗原性和基因型方面无明显改变.结论同一株嗜肺巴氏杆菌能在实验大鼠和小鼠中相互传染.     

Pasteurella pneumotropica and the prevalence of the AHP (Actinobacillus, Haemophilus, Pasteurella)-group in laboratory animals

134 bacterial isolates originally identified as Pasteurella pneumotropica were cultured from healthy, ill or dead mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and cats originating from 7 conventional laboratory animal facilities. They occurred seldom in pure culture and were found in a variety of organs. Thorough identification (41 criteria) revealed that only 83 isolates (62%) were P. pneumotropica and could be subdivided into 3 biotypes. 3 isolates were P. aerogenes, 1 was P. ureae, 11 (8%) were qualified as Actinobacillus spp. and 13 (10%) as Haemophilus spp. Close relationship of the 3 genera--the 'AHP-group' --made the differentiation difficult. 23 atypical cultures were discarded at the beginning of the study as not belonging to the 'AHP-group'. Two-thirds of isolates were associated with inflammation or suppuration; Haemophilus spp. seemed to be more pathogenic than Pasteurella and Actinobacillus species.     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of chronic subclinical Pasteurella pneumotropica infection in mice.

Serum samples from seventy-five, 3- to 12-week-old and 16 retired breeder male Swiss mice from a conventional colony with enzootic chronic subclinical Pasteurella pneumotropica infection were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blots for IgG antibodies to whole cell (WC) and lipooligosaccharide (LOS) antigens of P. pneumotropica. In 3- to 12-week-old mice, serum antibody levels to LOS exceeded those to the WC preparation. Western blots of sera from mice in this age group substantiated that a major component of the early IgG antibody response was directed against LOS antigens. Higher antibody levels to both antigen preparations in 3-week-old mice compared to mice 4 and 6 weeks old were interpreted as reflecting a decline in antibodies acquired from the dam. Active immunity indicative of infection was first detected at 8 weeks of age. Serum samples from retired breeder mice (28 weeks of age) also had substantial antibody titers to LOS but, in contrast to sera from mice in the younger age groups, retired breeders had significantly greater IgG reactivity to WC preparations than to LOS antigens. The superior specificity of the LOS antigen compared to the WC preparation in the ELISA was demonstrated by testing serum samples from retired breeder mice against WC and LOS antigens from P. ureae, P. multocida, and P. hemolytica. The reactivity of IgG against LOS antigens from these organisms was negligible, whereas substantial titers were evident to WC antigens. This ELISA, using LOS preparations as antigen, is a useful serologic assay for the detection of subclinical P. pneumotropica infection in mice.     

Evaluation of a forced-air-ventilated micro-isolation system for protection of mice against Pasteurella pneumotropica.

Studies to date have established that the physical environment inside cages can be controlled adequately by setting the intra-cage ventilation at 60 air changes per hour in a forced-air-ventilated micro-isolation system (FVMIS). In this study, the capability of FVMIS to prevent inter-cage transmission of microorganisms was evaluated using Pasteurella pneumotropica as a reference microorganism. One FVMIS rack and a conventional rack were used, and cages with mice positive for P. pneumotropica and those with P. pneumotropica-free mice were housed on both racks. The mice were examined for P. pneumotropica contamination every 4 weeks after initiating the experiment for 12 weeks using a polymerase chain reaction method. Some P. pneumotropica-free mice housed in open air cages in the conventional rack became positive for P. pneumotropica (four of 28 animals after 4 weeks; eight of 28 animals after 12 weeks), but all P. pneumotropica-free mice housed in the FVMIS cages remained negative for the bacterium throughout the experiment. The results demonstrate that FVMIS can prevent inter-cage transmission of P. pneumotropica when proper cage handling practice is under taken.     

Elimination of Pasteurella pneumotropica from a contaminated mouse colony by oral administration of Enrofloxacin.

Enrofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone bactericidal antibiotic, was administered in an attempt to eradicate Pasteurella pneumotropica (P. pneumotropica) from a contaminated mouse colony. Contaminated mice, maintained within 4 animal rooms, were administered Enrofloxacin in drinking water at a daily dosage of 25.5 mg/kg for 2 weeks. Following one week of Enrofloxacin treatment, mice were selected randomly from each room and examined for P. pneumotropica. This procedure was repeated two or three times until all mice examined tested negative for the Pasteurella strain. With the exception of one room, treated mice consistently tested negative for P. pneumotropica for up to 45 weeks following completion of Enrofloxacin treatment. Thus, oral administration of Enrofloxacin significantly eliminated P. pneumotropica from a contaminated mouse colony.     

嗜肺巴斯德杆菌选择性培养基研制及应用

目的　研制一种对嗜肺巴斯德杆菌表现出强选择作用的选择性培养基,用于该菌的常规检测。方法　药敏试验及抗生素最小抑菌浓度测定。结果　研制了嗜肺巴氏杆菌选择性培养基(PPSM培养基)及嗜肺巴斯德杆菌增菌液(PP肉汤)。嗜肺巴斯德杆菌在PPSM培养基上,37℃48h培养,形成1mm左右,凸起、湿润、灰黑色并有金属光泽的特殊菌落;对表皮葡萄球菌和大肠埃氏菌的抑制率为100%,对变形杆菌的抑制率为76%,并能抑制其迁徙生长;通过PP肉汤增菌培养,PPSM培养基使SPF小鼠粪便中嗜肺巴斯德杆菌检出率从0增至67.2%;用小鼠咽拭子接种该培养基,其初代培养物几乎为纯培养物。结论　该培养基对嗜肺巴氏杆菌具有较强的选择作用,使用该培养基对嗜肺巴氏杆菌进行检测可以简化检测程序、防止漏检、在不处死动物的情况下对嗜肺巴斯德杆菌进行常规监测。     

嗜肺巴氏杆菌L型的诱导及其流行病学意义初探

目的 探讨L型嗜肺巴氏杆菌在诊断学及流行病学上的意义。方法 青霉素液体法诱导,并对嗜肺巴氏杆菌L型的生物学特性进行系统观察。结果 嗜肺巴氏杆菌L型具有典型的“煎蛋状”（L型）和“丝状”（F 型）菌落,扫描电镜观察,L型菌体呈球状、杆状、长丝状;革兰染色呈阴性、缠绕的长丝体,并具有圆球体及巨型体,细胞壁染色显示细胞壁缺失;对紫外线、新洁尔灭抵抗力较原菌增强5~10倍;自然干燥环境中,原菌2 d死亡,而L型可存活12 d;能透过0.45μm滤膜;回复的最初几代,其菌体形态较原菌大数倍。结论 L型嗜肺巴氏杆菌在形态学方面有较大变化,对理化因素及外界环境抵抗力增强,有可能透过胎盘屏障垂直传播。本研究提示L型嗜肺巴氏杆菌在该菌诊断学及流行病学上有重要意义。     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to Pasteurella pneumotropica in murine colonies

An ELISA for the detection of class specific IgG antibodies to Pasteurella pneumotropica was developed for the serological diagnosis of infections in mouse colonies. Heat inactivated whole cell preparations of an isolate of P. pneumotropica biotype Heyl (strain P 166) served as antigen for the ELISA procedure and for immune serum production in germ-free Han:NMRI mice. Cross reactions with the autochthonous flora of Han:NMRI SPF-mice were not observed, but were evident when a P. pneumotropica antiserum was tested against other antigens of the Pasteurella-Actinobacillus group. According to the reclassification of this bacterial group proposed by Mutters et al. (1), strains of the following species were tested: P. anatis, P. canis, P. dagmatis, P. langaa, Pl multocida sub. multocida, P. pneumotropica biotype Jawetz, P. stomatis, Actinobacillus equuli and A. lignieresii. Clear cross reactions could be shown with P. pneumotropica biotype Jawetz and A. equuli and to a lesser extent with P. anatis. Antibody formation profiles after nasal infection of Han:NMRI mice exhibited a primary rise of IgG-type antibody titer between 17 to 21 days post infection. Investigations of different mouse colonies free and infected with P. pneumotropica revealed good correlations between serological and bacteriological findings.     

Implementation of a PCR assay of Pasteurella pneumotropica to accurately screen for contaminated laboratory mice

The authors implemented a PCR protocol to rapidly screen for Pasteurella pneumotropica and to accurately identify contaminated laboratory mice in a clinical setting. This protocol was implemented in response to a severe outbreak of P. pneumotropica in their animal facility. Although a sentinel program was in place to routinely screen for P. pneumotropica, it was inadequate for the identification of contaminated animals. As a result, several additional strains of mice were contaminated and developed clinical signs of infection. The authors implemented a screening method using PCR with reported primer pairs previously developed to identify the biotype isolates of P. pneumotropica in laboratory mice. Throat culture swabs were collected from live mice and placed in a bacterial culture. The DNA from these cultures was isolated and screened by PCR. This procedure enabled the authors to eliminate P. pneumotropica from several animal housing rooms. The assay can be easily applied in most animal facilities.