This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Jacques, M Articles by Dugal, F Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Jacques, M Articles by Dugal, F

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Infect Immun. 1993 November; 61(11): 4785-4792

Virulence of capsulated and noncapsulated isolates of Pasteurella multocida and their adherence to porcine respiratory tract cells and mucus.

Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de Médecine Vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.

ABSTRACT

The virulence and the adherence to porcine respiratory tract cells and mucus of three toxigenic, capsular type D Pasteurella multocida isolates and their noncapsulated variants were evaluated in the present study. Loss of capsule by P. multocida, verified by transmission electron microscopy after polycationic ferritin labeling, was associated with a massive reduction in virulence of the organisms in mice. Specific-pathogen-free piglets inoculated intranasally with one of the capsulated isolates or its noncapsulated variant developed turbinate lesions characterized by bone resorption and by an inflammation of the mucosa associated with hyperplasia and squamous metaplasia of the epithelium. Infection with the capsulated isolate led to more severe lesions and atrophy of turbinates. The interactions of these P. multocida isolates with porcine respiratory tract cells and mucus were studied in vitro. The presence of capsule resulted in a decrease in binding of respiratory tract mucus were studied in vitro. The presence of capsule resulted in a decrease in binding of respiratory tract mucus to P. multocida isolates as determined by a dot blot assay. The presence of capsule also resulted in a significant decrease in adherence to porcine tracheal rings maintained in culture. The capsule seemed to mask outer membrane components which are involved in adherence. One of these components might be lipopolysaccharide since purified lipopolysaccharide bound respiratory tract mucus and blocked adherence of this microorganism to porcine tracheal rings. Our data indicate that capsular material does not seem to be involved in adherence of P. multocida to respiratory tract cells and mucus, but capsulated isolates are more virulent in mice and also in piglets.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Mullen, L. M., Nair, S. P., Ward, J. M., Rycroft, A. N., Williams, R. J., Robertson, G., Mordan, N. J., Henderson, B. (2008). Novel Adhesin from Pasteurella multocida That Binds to the Integrin-Binding Fibronectin FnIII9-10 Repeats. Infect. Immun. 76: 1093-1104 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Chung, J. Y., Wilkie, I., Boyce, J. D., Townsend, K. M., Frost, A. J., Ghoddusi, M., Adler, B. (2001). Role of Capsule in the Pathogenesis of Fowl Cholera Caused by Pasteurella multocida Serogroup A. Infect. Immun. 69: 2487-2492 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Boyce, J. D., Adler, B. (2000). The Capsule Is a Virulence Determinant in the Pathogenesis of Pasteurella multocida M1404 (B:2). Infect. Immun. 68: 3463-3468 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• López-Dóriga, M. V., Barnes, A. C., dos Santos, N. M. S., Ellis, A. E. (2000). Invasion of fish epithelial cells by Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida: evidence for receptor specificity, and effect of capsule and serum. Microbiology 146: 21-30 [Abstract] [Full Text]