Influence of Serum and Glucose Additives on Survival of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae Aerosolized from the Freeze-Dried State

Survival of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae outside the pig

Transmission of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is primarily thought to be via direct transfer of mucus from pig to pig. For transfer between farms, the organism may need to persist in the wet or dried state to be carried on an inanimate surface. The survival of A. pleuropneumoniae was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. In aqueous suspension, survival was improved by the presence of NaCl and mucin; it was prolonged at lower temperature. In dry state, it survived best on a hydrophobic surface either under desiccated conditions or saturated humidity. Detectable viability was maintained for 3-4 days. When frozen, A. pleuropneumoniae survived for more than 17 weeks at -20 °C, but the viability declined to 0.01% during that time. Survival at -70 °C was effective for long term storage. Results obtained from this investigation would be applicable for sampling method, transport techniques, epidemiological study, and biosecurity implementation.

Evaluation of survival of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Haemophilus parasuis in four liquid media and two swab specimen transport systems

OBJECTIVE

To determine duration and rates of recovery of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Haemophilus parasuis from 4 liquid media and 2 swab specimen transport systems and compare findings with those of Escherichia coli.

SAMPLE POPULATION

One strain each of A pleuropneumoniae (biovar 1, serotype 1), H parasuis (serovar 5), and E coli (serotype O149:K91:H19).

PROCEDURE

Strains were incubated in brain heart infusion broth supplemented with horse serum and other nutrients or in horse serum alone, with and without nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide in both instances, for 150 days at 4 degrees C or room temperature (21 degrees C). Similarly, strains were tested in Stuart and Amies transport systems after storage at room temperature for 8 days.

RESULTS

Colony counts greater than those of the initial inoculum were observed after incubation in horse serum for A pleuropneumoniae but not for H parasuis. Overall, incubation at 4 degrees C in the 4 liquid media resulted in longer recovery duration and higher rates than at room temperature. Culture of H parasuis resulted in lower recovery rates and shorter durations of recovery than culture of A pleuropneumoniae, except for culture in horse serum. Haemophilus parasuis survived longer than A pleuropneumoniae in the transport systems, and all organisms survived longer in the Amies system.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Survival of A pleuropneumoniae and H parasuis indicated that horse serum prolongs survivability, which may result in exposure of more animals during a prolonged period. The Amies system might be a good choice for collection of clinical samples from animals, especially for recovery of H parasuis.

The role of infectious aerosols in disease transmission in pigs

Airborne transmission is of significance for a number of infectious diseases in pigs. The general principles of the airborne pathway, including aerosol production, decay and inhalation, are reviewed. Practical issues regarding aerosol sampling and sample analysis are also discussed. Details of the aerobiology of porcine diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease, Aujesky's disease, and respiratory diseases, are explained. Some additional, potentially airborne diseases are discussed in terms of the evidence for their aerosol transmission. In order to prevent airborne diseases in pigs, dust reduction, air filtration, air disinfection, vaccination and the establishment of disease-free regions could be considered.

Pigs aerogenously immunized with genetically inactivated (ghosts) or irradiated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae are protected against a homologous aerosol challenge despite differing in pulmonary cellular and antibody responses

Aerosol immunization is a safe way to induce complete protection against pleuropneumonia in pigs caused by the lung pathogenic bacterium Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. In order to determine the local immune responses of vaccinees in concomitant with protection, lung lining fluid before and 3 weeks after immunization from pigs immunized three times with aerosols of either genetically inactivated ghosts which represent whole cell envelope preparations, or irradiated bacteria were examined following an homologous aerosol challenge. Specific antibody isotypes in the bronchoalveolar lavage were assayed by whole cell ELISAs. Total and relative numbers of cells including lymphocyte subsets were determined. In both vaccinated groups a net influx of plasma cells and lymphocytes, as well as a significant increase of specific IgG occurred. Concurrently, the CD4+/CD8+ ratio was found to increase after aerosol immunization. The lymphocyte subsets of IgG+ and IgA+ cells were found significantly higher in the group immunized with irradiated bacteria when compared to pigs immunized with bacterial ghosts. The latter group showed a significant increase of IgA, IgM, and a net influx of lymphoid blasts and granulocytes in the bronchoalveolar lining fluid. Although differences between the local immune responses of both immunized groups occurred, a significant increase of specific IgG and a net influx of plasma cells and lymphocytes were found to be associated with complete protection against a homologous aerosol challenge infection.

Induction of protective immunity by aerosol or oral application of candidate vaccines in a dose-controlled pig aerosol infection model

In order to outline basic concepts for the design of a bacterial aerosol infection model, the development of a pig model with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is described. First, reproducibility of aerosol parameters should be maintained by optimizing generating and sampling conditions. Survival rates of the chosen strain must be predictable. Secondly, inhalation conditions for the recipients have to be standardized to enable the determination of deposition sites and the dose administered. Subsequently, dose-response relationship should be evaluated to find a suitable challenge dose. Furthermore, it seems necessary to establish methods to obtain local specimens for determination of the local immune responses. The present study demonstrates that after aerosol challenge pigs were completely protected after inhalation and partially protected after oral application of A. pleuropneumoniae vaccines and describes techniques to administer bacteria in a dose-dependent, viable way. Using the infection model several stages of the disease from acute pleuropneumonia to chronic infection can be induced for research purposes.

Aerosol exposure of pigs to viable or inactivated Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 9 induces antibodies in bronchoalveolar lining fluids and serum, and protects against homologous challenge

A dose-defined nose-only inhalation system for pigs was used to study the immunogenic and protective potentials of a single aerosol application of viable or killed Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 9. Respiratory volumes were measured for each pig to calculate inhaled individual doses. Eight pigs inhaled 107 CFU A. pleuropneumoniae CVI 13261 reference strain for serotype 9. Another eight pigs received an identical dose of killed actinobacilli. After three weeks the pigs and nonexposed controls were challenged with 108 CFU of the homologous strain by aerosol. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF) in pigs was performed during the experiment to obtain lavage samples for assessment of local antibodies. Isotype-specific antibody responses in serum and BAL fluids were measured by ELISAs based on whole-cell antigens. The protective efficacy of aerosol immunization was evaluated by clinical and post-mortem examinations. The controls developed fever and severe pleuropneumonia, whereas previously exposed pigs had less fever and less extensive gross pulmonary lesions. After the first aerosol exposure pulmonary IgM, and IgG antibodies reactive with A. pleuropneumoniae increased significantly in both aerosol exposed groups. IgA in BALF and serum concentrations of each Ig class were significantly increased in the group exposed to viable bacteria when compared to the non-exposed controls. After aerosol challenge a pronounced increase of systemic and pulmonary IgA, IgM, and IgG antibodies was detected in both exposure groups. Aerosol application of whole-cell A. pleuropneumoniae bacterins induced similar protective effects against aerosol challenge infection as administration of an identical dose of viable bacteria. Inhalation of A. pleuropneumoniae may lead to asymptomatic carriers in some pigs that could spread the disease under field conditions.