Isolation of Bordetella avium from poultry

Antimicrobial sensitivity testing of Australian isolates of Bordetella avium and the Bordetella avium-like organism

The in-vitro sensitivity of 16 Australian isolates of Bordetella avium and 15 isolates of B avium-like organism to 11 antimicrobial agents or combinations of agents was determined using a microtitre plate system to establish minimal inhibitory concentrations. All the B avium isolates were sensitive to ampicillin but resistant to erythromycin, lincomycin, spectinomycin, sulphamethoxazole, trimethoprim, and lincomycin + spectinomycin. Most of the B avium isolates were sensitive to tetracycline and resistant to streptomycin and sulphadiazine. All the B avium-like isolates were resistant to ampicillin, erythromycin, lincomycin, spectinomycin, streptomycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim, and lincomycin+spectinomycin. Most B avium-like isolates were sensitive to sulphadiazine, sulphamethoxazole and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole.

Absence of mouse-lethal toxins in Australian isolates of Bordetella avium

A total of 18 Australian isolates of Bordetella avium and seven reference B. avium strains from Europe and the USA were tested for the presence of a mouse-lethal toxin. Five of the seven reference strains of B. avium, but none of the 18 Australian isolates, produced the toxin.

Isolation and characterisation of Bordetella avium and related species and an evaluation of their role in respiratory disease in poultry

A total of 24 Gram negative non fermentative bacteria obtained from poultry were compared with reference strains of Bordetella avium, Alcaligenes faecalis, Bordetella bronchiseptica and a Bordetella avium-like organism. Thirteen isolates were identified as B. avium and 11 were identified as B. avium-like. A commercial microidentification kit (the API2ONE) did not identify the field isolates but did separate them correctly into the 2 groups. A practical identification scheme, suitable for diagnostic laboratories, is proposed for these organisms. The available clinical histories suggest that B. avium is associated with upper respiratory tract disease in turkeys.

Differentiation of Bordetella avium and related species by cellular fatty acid analysis

The fatty acids of 18 strains of Bordetella avium, 3 strains of Alcaligenes faecalis, 5 strains of Bordetella bronchiseptica, and 12 strains of a B. avium-like organism were examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The presence of a significant amount of the acid 2-OH C14:0 characterized B. avium and the B. avium-like organism. B. avium and the B. avium-like organism differed in their relative concentrations of C16:1 and 3-OH C14:0 acids. B. bronchiseptica and A. faecalis were distinguishable by comparison of the relative concentrations of C18:0 and C18:1 acids.

An evaluation of two methods of substrate alkalinization for the identification of Bordetella avium and other similar organisms

The effect of using two different techniques for the detection of substrate alkalinization by Bordetella avium and reference strains of Alcaligenes faecalis and B. bronchiseptica was evaluated. The techniques used were those described by Otto and Pickett and Hinz et al. Each test was in tubes sealed by either screw caps or cotton wool plugs. The alkalinization patterns obtained depended upon both the technique and the type of seal used.