Early pulmonary lesions in turkeys produced by nonviable Aspergillus fumigatus and/or Pasteurella multocida lipopolysaccharide

This study assessed the potential of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) purified from Pasteurella multocida to cause pulmonary pathology or exacerbate lesions produced by gamma-irradiated nonviable Aspergillus fumigatus conidia when administered via the intra-air sac route in turkeys. LPS provoked suppurative airsacculitis, pleuritis, and pneumonia. Nonviable conidia produced airsacculitis and transient pneumonitis but did not elicit multinucleate giant cells, which are a feature of the inflammatory process in A. fumigatus infection. LPS in combination with A. fumigatus conidia resulted in accelerated pulmonary inflammation and apparently delayed clearance of conidia from pulmonary tissues. This study presents a model of aseptic airsacculitis and pneumonia with clinical relevance.     

Pasteurella multocida epiglottitis

Pasteurella multocida, a small gram-negative coccobacillus, colonizes the nasopharynx and gastrointestinal tract of many animals, including cats and dogs. Most human infections with P multocida are due to animal bites, but the respiratory tract is the second most common site of infection. We describe the third case report (to out knowledge) of acute P multocida epiglottitis. The mode of transmission in this case was inhalation of infectious nasopharyngeal secretions from cats. The patient responded well to treatment with penicillin, the drug of choice for P multocida infections. Therefore, infection with P multocida, though rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis in any case involving acute epiglottitis and exposure to cats.     

Genetic analysis of antibody responses of turkeys to Newcastle disease virus and Pasteurella multocida vaccines

Heritability (h2) of 16-wk BW and primary and secondary antibody responses and genetic and phenotypic correlations among these traits were estimated for 931 male and female turkeys vaccinated with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and Pasteurella multocida. Turkeys from a line selected for 22 or 23 generations for increased 16-wk BW were vaccinated at 6 and 12 wk of age with blood samples collected 3 wk postvaccination. Antibody titers were determined using an ELISA method and transformed to log(e) for analysis. Heritability estimates for primary and secondary antibody responses to NDV were .380 +/- .070 (SE) and .296 +/- .063, respectively. For primary and secondary antibody responses to P. multocida, h2 estimates were .458 +/- .075 and .333 +/- .066, respectively. Heritability estimate for 16-wk BW was .404 +/- .071. The genetic correlation between primary and secondary antibody responses to NDV was .491 +/- .150. There was no genetic correlation between primary and secondary antibody responses to P. multocida. Although the genetic correlation between primary antibody responses to NDV and P. multocida was .292 +/- .159, the genetic correlation between secondary responses to the two antigens did not differ from zero. There were no genetic correlations between antibody responses and 16-wk BW. Similar results were observed for phenotypic correlations. Based on heritability and genetic correlation estimates, it would be possible to improve antibody responses to either NDV or P. multocida singularly; however, to improve antibody responses to both antigens, selection would have to be applied for each antigen.     

Lysogeny in Pasteurella multocida]

Studied was the possibility of lysis-producing factors (the phenomenon of lysogeny) with 59 strains of Pastuerella multocida isolated in Bulgaria, Cuba, and Czechoslovakia. It was found that eleven of them were lysogenic in terms that a total of 12 bacteriophage strains were isolated from them; one of them yielded 2 phages. Established were three different indicator strains of Pasteurella multocida-97, SHD, and R-II--by means of which 3 different groups of P. multocida phages were isolated. The latter were stabilized and allowed to multiply up to 10(11) phage particles per 1 cc through continuous passaging, and they could be be stored at + 4 degrees C. In accordance with the host strain for multiplying the isolated P. multocida phages were divided into three different groups: phages 3, 4, 5, 6, 22, and Sl fell into group II, and phages 1075 and S-2--to group III.     

Immunogenicity of purified lipopolysaccharide or protein-oligosaccharide conjugates of Pasteurella multocida type 6:B in mice

Purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Pasteurella multocida type 6:B, while toxic at higher doses, was protective at lower dose levels against experimentally-induced pasteurellosis in mice. However, the observed protection was abrogated if such LPS was digested with proteinase K prior to use in immunisation. The O-antigen polysaccharide side-chain (OS) of LPS did not appear to contribute to the observed protection as judged by the fact that immunisation of mice with purified OS or OS-protein conjugates, all of which were nontoxic, failed to confer protection against challenge with homologous virulent organisms. This was despite generation of significant levels of OS-specific antibodies, predominantly either of the IgM or IgG isotypes, in immunised mice.     

Effect of furazolidone in feed on immune response of turkeys vaccinated with live Pasteurella multocida in drinking water

In 2 trials, turkey poults were fed diets containing 0.011% furazolidone: in one trial until 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 days before vaccination with live Pasteurella multocida (CU) in the drinking water; and in a second trial with the furazolidone added to the diet 4 days before the vaccination or 1, 3 or 5 days after. This 0.011% level of medication did not appear to reduce the immune response.     

Pasteurella multocida septicaemia in Milroy''s disease

Diaziquone (AZQ) is a lipid soluble alkylating agent which was designed for increased CNS penetration. Its principle toxicity is myelosuppression. We conducted a phase I trial using AZQ in combination with GM-CSF to determine if the maximal tolerate dose (MTD) of AZQ could be escalated. Using GM-CSF on a standard schedule, we were unable to escalate the previously determined MTD of diaziquone with the use of this colony stimulating factor.     

Post-traumatic meningitis due to Pasteurella multocida

The clinical data of a 14-year old female patient with posttraumatic meningitis by Pasteurella multocida are reported. The behaviour of the isolated strain is recorded in cultural and biochemical aspect as well as in animal experiment. The importance of the infection with Pasteurella multocida is lined out and the possible origin of the disease in the reported case is discussed. Finally some problems of special bacteriological diagnosis are explained and hints are given in this respect.     

Pasteurella multocida meningitis in a two-day old neonate

A normal full-term baby boy, born by vaginal delivery, became ill on day 2 with fever and failure to feed. CSF examination revealed 260 x 10(6)/l leucocytes, mainly mononuclears, protein 2 g/l and glucose zero. Pasteurella multocida was isolated in pure culture from the baby's CSF, blood and umbilicus and from the mother's vagina. The baby was treated with i.v. penicillin for 7 weeks. Progress was complicated by mild hydrocephalus, which resolved, and prolonged low grade fever. Recovery was complete, without neurological sequelae. This case illustrates that P. multocida can infect the vagina where it presents a hazard to a newborn infant delivered vaginally. Early diagnosis is critical, intravenous high dose penicillin being the treatment of choice.     

Pasteurella multocida tonsillitis: case report and review

Pasteurella multocida is frequently part of the normal flora of the nasopharynx and digestive tract of several wild and domestic animals. Although P. multocida can produce a variety of upper and lower respiratory tract infections, only four previous cases of tonsillitis caused by this organism have been reported. We present a case of pasteurella tonsillitis in a 30-year-old female who was exposed through her cat, which manifested upper respiratory symptoms.     

Three cases of Pasteurella multocida infection in the respiratory tract

Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) is well recognized as "normal flora" in the upper respiratory tract of cats, dogs and other animals. Recently, various infections due to P. multocida in human have been noted as pulmonary infections in the patients with chronic pulmonary diseases as well as skin abscesses or septicemia after an animal bite or scratch. We report here three cases of respiratory tract infections caused by P. multocida. The first two patients had acute exacerbation of bronchiectasis caused by P. multocida and the other patients with pulmonary emphysema developed pneumonia. These three patients improved by antibiotic therapy. In Japan, P. multocida respiratory tract infection is rare, but it may become more common in the future. Therefore, it seems to be important to take this pathogen into consideration in the management of chronic lung disease.     

Interaction of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida infections in swine

To investigate the interaction between Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Pasteurella multocida infection, 32 pigs were randomly assigned by litter, sex, and weight to 4 treatment groups. Group-1 pigs were inoculated with M hyopneumoniae and allowed to recover from M hyopneumoniae infection. Group-2 pigs were vaccinated against M hyopneumoniae and then inoculated with M hyopneumoniae. Group-3 pigs were inoculated with M hyopneumoniae and developed clinical signs of mycoplasmosis. Group-4 pigs had never been exposed to M hyopneumoniae. All pigs were initially seronegative for M hyopneumoniae. All pigs were subsequently inoculated with P multocida and euthanatized 2 weeks later. Pasteurella multocida was isolated only from the lungs of group-3 pigs, and these pigs had a significantly higher median percentage of lung surface area affected by pneumonia than did pigs in the other groups. For group-3 pigs, percentage of lung surface area affected by pneumonia was positively correlated with the number of P multocida colonies isolated. We concluded that P multocida is not a primary respiratory pathogen in pigs, but that M hyopneumoniae infection can render the lungs susceptible to P multocida colonization and infection. Pigs recovered from or vaccinated against infection with M hyopneumoniae were resistant to P multocida infection.     

Pancoast's syndrome due to chronic pneumonia by Pasteurella multocida

Infectious causes of Pancoast's syndrome are extremely rare. We describe the case of a patient with Pancoast's syndrome due to chronic pneumonia resulting from Pasteurella multocida. The patient was not immunosuppressed and had had no contact with animals. The diagnosis was made by transthoracic needle aspiration and institution of therapy with cefuroxime-axetil resulted in resolution of his symptoms.     

The capsule biosynthetic locus of Pasteurella multocida A:1

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the progression of autonomic dysfunction in patients with Duchenne-type progressive muscular dystrophy (DMD) over time by using heart rate variability. BACKGROUND: Although previous studies suggest the presence of autonomic dysfunction in patients with DMD, the precise cause is not known. On the other hand, it is well known that analysis of heart rate variability provides a useful, noninvasive means of quantifying autonomic activity. High frequency power is determined predominantly by the parasympathetic nervous system, whereas low frequency power is determined by both the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. METHODS AND RESULTS: Frequency and time domain analyses of heart rate variability during ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring were performed in 17 patients with DMD over a 9-year period. At the time of entry, the mean patient age was 11 years and the mean Swinyard-Deaver stage was 4. In the first year, high frequency power was significantly lower and the ratio of low frequency to high frequency was significantly higher in patients with DMD than in the normal control subjects. These differences become significantly greater as the disease progressed. At the time of entry, low and high frequency powers increased at night in both groups. However, over time, high and low frequency powers at night tended to decrease. All of the time domain parameters were significantly lower in the patients with DMD at all time points compared with the normal control subjects. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that DMD patients have either a decrease in parasympathetic activity, an increase in sympathetic activity, or both as their disease progresses.     

Effects of the major Pasteurella multocida porin on bovine neutrophils

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate in vitro effect of the major fraction of outer membrane proteins of Pasteurella multocida with porin-like activities on some biological functions of bovine neutrophils. ANIMALS: Neutrophils from 5 adult cattle. PROCEDURE: Variations in such biological processes as actin polymerization and chemotaxis and evaluation of hydrogen peroxide attributable to variable concentrations of P multocida were recorded and compared. Data were obtained, using the porin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) isolated from a strain of P multocida cultivated in brain-heart infusion (BHI) broth. Various concentrations of porin and LPS were analyzed to evaluate changes in functional activation and microbicidal activity of bovine neutrophils. RESULTS: The 37.5-kd major polypeptide of the outer membrane of P multocida was isolated. Presence of this porin was significantly correlated with variations of some biological functions of bovine neutrophils. These immunocompetent cells had a concentration-dependent increase in actin polymerization and chemotactic activity. A concentration-dependent variation in the oxidative burst also was observed. CONCLUSIONS: The porins of gram-negative bacteria affect several biological functions of cells involved in the immune response as well as in inflammation. Significant correlation of results of in vitro experiments also was identified between porin and LPS effect. Pretreatment of bovine neutrophils with various concentrations of porin always caused a concentration-dependent increase in examined biological activities.     

Pasteurella multocida infection involving cranial air spaces in White Leghorn chickens

OBJECTIVE: We retrospectively reviewed five pathologically proven cases of diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectosigmoid colon to define the MR imaging features of this entity. CONCLUSION: Diffuse cavernous hemangioma of the rectosigmoid colon is revealed as rectosigmoid wall thickening with high signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images. Such wall thickening is associated with abnormal perirectal fat. The extent of bowel involvement and extrarectal locations are well shown on T2-weighted MR images.