Genomic relationships of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 strains evaluated by ribotyping, sequence analysis of ribosomal intergenic regions, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

The aim of the present study was to examine the genomic relationship among 112 Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 strains obtained throughout Europe and North America. Hind III ribotyping of the strains resulted in five ribotypes of high similarity (87–98%). Sequence analysis of the ribosomal intergenic region of strains representing each ribotype and each country showed no differences. A common ribotype was further characterized by PFGE of 12 strains representing all countries. The resultant five PFGE patterns of European strains showed a similarity of more than 91%, to which the two PFGE patterns of the Canadian strains showed a similarity of 84–86%. In conclusion, strains of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 seem to be clonally related.