Differentiation of twelve Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes by outer membrane lipoprotein gene-based restriction fragment length polymorphism

The challenge of detecting herds sub-clinically infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

The introduction into a naïve herd of animals sub-clinically infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) is frequently the cause of clinical pleuropneumonia and the identification of such infected herds is a priority in the control of disease. Different serological tests for App have been developed and a number of these are routinely used. Some are species-specific whereas others identify more specifically the serotype/serogroup involved which requires updated information about important serotypes recovered from diseased pigs in a given area/country. Serotyping methods based on molecular techniques have been developed lately and are ready to be used by most diagnostic laboratories. When non-conclusive serological results are obtained, direct detection of App from tonsils is sometimes attempted. This review addresses different techniques and approaches used to monitor herds sub-clinically infected by this important pathogen.

Comparison of three typing assays for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-independent Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

Three tests for typing clinical isolates of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae biovar 2 were compared: 1) standard coagglutination with type-specific antisera against serovars 1-12 of biovar 1 of A. pleuropneumoniae; 2) a previously described polymerase chain reaction system for detecting the apx genes encoding the ApxI, ApxII, and ApxIII toxins in A. pleuropneumoniae; and 3) a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the transferrin-binding protein B gene. The panel of strains tested included 112 field isolates of biovar 2 recovered from pigs between 1979 and 2007 in Italy and Spain, and reference strains for all described serovars of both biovars. The values of Simpson index of diversity obtained for the 3 methods were 0.68, 0.20, and 0.60, respectively. Coagglutination assays identified the field isolates as belonging to serovars 2 (9 strains), 4 (13 strains), 7 (61 strains), 9 (17 strains), and 11 (1 strain). Eleven strains were not typeable, and cross-reactivity was observed between serovars 2 and 4, 4 and 7, and 9 and 11. Isolates of A. pleuropneumoniae biovar 2 displayed 2 apx patterns: ApxII(+) (94 strains) and ApxI(+)/ApxII(+) (18 strains). The restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis assigned the strains tested to 3 different patterns. This method distinguished between biovar 2 reference strains and field strains that could not be identified by other methods, thus constituting a useful complementary test for the typing of A. pleuropneumoniae biovar 2.

PCR specific for Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 3

Serotypes 3 and 8 of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the aetiological agent of porcine pleuropneumonia, have been reported to predominate in the UK. Direct serotyping of isolates of the organism is typically determined by the immunological reactivity of rabbit serum to its surface polysaccharides, but the method has limitations, for example, cross-reactions between serotypes 3, 6 and 8. This study describes the development of a serotype 3-specific pcr, based on the capsule locus, which can be used in a multiplex format with the organism's specific gene apxIV. The pcr test was evaluated on 266 strains of A pleuropneumoniae and 121 strains of other organisms, including all the major respiratory bacterial pathogens of pigs. The test was highly specific and sensitive and should be useful for differentiating strains of serotypes 3, 6 and 8, and in seroprevalence and epidemiological surveys in regions where serotype 3 is prevalent, such as the UK.

Differentiation of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae by PCR-REA based on sequence variability of the apxIVA gene and by ribotyping

During the period of 2001-2003, a total of 591 Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae field isolates from the Czech Republic were serotyped with a high occurrence of cross-reactions. The cross-reactions were observed in 416 isolates. Most frequently, in 401 isolates (67.9%), cross-reactions with antisera specific for serotypes 9, 11, and/or 1 were observed. Two additional molecular methods, ribotyping and restriction analysis of PCR amplified apxIVA gene (PCR-REA), were therefore used for detailed characterisation of A. pleuropneumoniae. In this subsequent analysis, reference strains representing serotypes 1-12 and 25 field isolates showing the most frequent serotype cross-reactions were examined. PCR-REA enabled all reference strains to be distinguished except for the strains of serotypes 9 and 11. Ribotyping distinguished all reference strains except two pairs of serotypes: 3 versus 6, and 9 versus 11, respectively. Field isolates with serotype cross-reactivity 9, 11, and/or 1 could not be differentiated by either of these methods.