Induction of pneumonia in rabbits by use of a purified protein toxin from Pasteurella multocida.

Abstract

Heat-labile toxin from a cell sonicate of a virulent type-D strain of Pasteurella multocida was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Toxic activity was assayed during toxin purification by cytopathic effect in Vero or bovine embryonic lung cell cultures. Toxicity for cells correlated with dermonecrosis in guinea pig skin. Toxicity was accounted for by a single protein with a molecular weight of 149,000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Rabbits were inoculated intranasally with purified toxin to determine whether toxin had a role in the induction of pneumonia in rabbits infected with P multocida. Pneumonia, pleuritis, acute hepatic necrosis, and splenic lymphoid atrophy were found in 4 of 5 rabbits. One of 5 rabbits had bilateral turbinate atrophy. Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies to toxin from a P multocida isolate causing atrophic rhinitis in pigs revealed the toxin that induces pleuritis and pneumonia in rabbits to be the same or a closely related toxin.

• Authors: C E Chrisp, N T Foged
• Journal: American journal of veterinary research (Am J Vet Res) Vol. 52 Issue 1 Pg. 56-61 (Jan 1991) ISSN: 0002-9645 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1826990 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Bacterial Proteins
• Bacterial Toxins
• Pasteurella multocida toxin

Topics

• Animals
• Bacterial Proteins
• Bacterial Toxins (isolation & purification, toxicity)
• Female
• Guinea Pigs
• Pasteurella
• Pleurisy (chemically induced)
• Pneumonia (chemically induced)
• Rabbits
• Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms