SummaryAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure Streptobacillus moniliformis antibodies in mice and rats was developed. Twelve S. moniliformis strains originating from cases of rat-bite fever and Haverhill fever in man and from various rodent species, showed considerable serological relationship.The ELISA appeared specific since antibodies to S. moniliformis were absorbed by autologous and homologous antigen, but not by heterologous bacterial antigens.Acholeplasma laidlaw;; showed partial serological relationship with S. moniliformis.The ELISA was validated using experimental infections in mice and rats. These studies and observations in naturally infected feral rats, confirmed that S. moniliformis is difficult to grow on primary isolation, and that the ELISA for S. moniliformis antibodies revealed more contaminated animals than culture. Keywords: Streptobacillus moniliformis;Serology; ELISA; Mouse; Rat Streptobacillus monilijormis has been associated with rat-bite fever and Haverhill fever in humans, following a bite and contamination of food by rat urine respectively. The rat has been identified as the main reservoir of S. monilijormis and the bacterium is considered a commensal inhabitant of the nasopharynx in this species of animal. S. moni/iformis has been reported to

Culture of guinea pig and rabbit respiratory tracts for bacteria using X- (haemin) and V- (NAD) factor in agar media detected infection by V-factor dependent Pasteurellaceae (Haemophilus sp.) in three colonies of guinea pigs and a group of rabbits. The 12 Haemophilus strains comprised three API NH codes classed as Haemophilus parainfluenzae and two codes classed as Haemophilus aphrophilus/paraphrophilus. Six cell wall lipid profiles were detected, but these were not related to API NH codes. Both bacteriological properties were used to select strains for serological studies but any relationship between bacteriological and serological properties of the Haemophilus strains was not evident. Varying serological relationships occurred between the newly isolated Haemophilus strains, [Pasteurella] pneumotropica NCTC 8284 and Haemophilus strains previously isolated from rats.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of Pasteurella pneumotropica antibodies in the sera of rats, mice, hamsters and Mastomys. P. pneumotropica from mice and rats showed cross-reactivity. The ELISA using P. pneumotropica NCTC 8284 detected more infected animals than selective culture in groups of rodents from which P. pneumotropica, Haemophilus sp and/or Actinobacillus sp were cultured. Cross reactivity between P. pneumotropica NCTC 8284 and haemophilus and actinobacillus isolates were not studied.

Cross-reactivity studies with Pasteurellaceae from guineapigs revealed 5 serologically distinct groups, comprising Pasteurella multocida, Sp group bacteria, SP-like bacteria, Pasteurella pneumotropica and an actinobacillus-like bacterium. Guineapig Pasteurellaceae differed serologically from mouse-derived P. pneumotropica NCTC 8284. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using SP group antigen, developed to monitor 'natural' infections by SP group Pasteurellaceae in guineapigs, detected significantly more infection than did cultivation, and was found superior to an ELISA performed with P. pneumotropica NCTC 8284.

SummaryMice and rats were experimentally infected with Pasteurellaceae isolated from mice, rats, hamsters and gerbils. Mice and rats were most heavily colonized by strains originally isolated from mice and rats respectively, and to a lesser extent by Pasteurellaceae from hamsters and gerbils. Colonization was generally accompanied by seroconversion. Gross pathology of the lungs was not observed. We conclude that Pasteurellaceae-free SPF mice and rats can be colonized by members of this bacterial family present in other rodent species. KeywordsPasteurellaceaej rodents; experimental infection; species-specificity Pohl 1979(Mannheim 1984 show a remarkable degree of species-specificity in colonizing hosts (Kilian & Frederiksen 1981). Although Pasteurellaceae have been isolated frequently from both healthy and diseased laboratory rodents, notably from mice and rats, host-specific parasitism of P. pneumotropica and related bacteria has hardly been studied. Morphological and biochemical differences between P. pneumotropica strains according to rodent species of origin, have not been reported. However, antigenic differences between mouse and rat strains of P. pneumotropica have been suggested (Nakagawa & Saito 1984) and we found differences in the haemagglutinating activity between mouse and rat strains of P. pneumotropica (Boot et a1. 1993a bacteriological, serological and pathological observations in SPF mice and rats which were experimentally infected with Pasteurellaceae isolated from mice, rats, hamsters and gerbils. Our study was aimed at increasing insight into the epidemiology of pasteurellosis in mouse and rat colonies. Members of the family Pasteurellaceae

SummaryAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for monitoring antibodies specific to Bordetella bronchiseptica in guineapigs and rabbits was developed. In conventional and SPF colonies of guineapigs and rabbits, the ELISA was equally successful in detecting infected animals when compared to selective cultivation from the respiratory tract. The ELISA showed a sensitivity of 1000/0 and a specificity of 900/0 in guineapigs. In rabbits the sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA were 97% and 91% respectively. In rabbit sera from infected colonies, ELISA activity showed a statistically significant correlation with titres obtained in the micro-agglutination test. Since serologically unrelated strains of the bacterium exist, the monitoring of animals for B. bronchiseptica infection by ELISA should be performed with various antigens.

SummaryAn enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA) to measure Corynebacterium kutscberi antibodies in mice and rats was developed. Seven C. kutscberi isolates showed considerable serological relationship, but Japanese isolates differed from the British isolates. The ELISA appeared specific since C. kutscberi antigen did not react with antisera against 8 heterologous coryneform species. Antibodies to C. kutscberi were to a limited extent absorbed by autologous and homologous antigen, but not at all by the heterologous coryneform species.In naturally infected wild Rattus norvegicus and laboratory NA rats, the ELISA demonstrated high ODs to C. kutscheri.

SummaryMice and rats, free from Pasteurellaceae, were exposed to Haemophilus spp. (V-factor dependent pasteurellaceae) by housing in proximity to infected rats or guineapigs, and monitored by culture and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)for cross infection. A minority of mice became infected when exposed to Haemophilus-infected rats but none when exposed to guineapigs. Rats were readily infected when exposed to Haemophilus-infected guineapigs or rats. Although Pasteurellaceae infections are commonly considered as host specific, our data show that Haemophilus spp. can cross the species barrier from rats to mice and from guineapigs to rats. KeywordsPasteurellaceae, Haemophilus spp.; rat; guineapigi mousej transmissionj epizootiologyj culturej ELISA We recently reported infection by V-(NAD) factor dependent Pasteurellaceae, that is Haemophilus strains in rats, guineapigs and rabbits (Boot et al. 1994/95) and described some of the bacteriological properties (Boot et a1.