Five DNA probes directed against different regions of the gene that encodes the dermonecrotic toxin of Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida were examined for their ability to identify toxigenic P. multocida subsp. multocida strains. The specificities of the probes were studied with 96 strains of P. multocida subsp. multocida and 22 strains of 11 other bacterial species. Results of colony hybridization assays using these probes indicated that two of the five probes have potential diagnostic value. Atrophic rhinitis, a major respiratory disease in pigs, is characterized by sneezing, nose bleeding, shortening or twisting of the snout, atrophy of the nasal turbinate bones, and, in severe cases, impaired growth. Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida strains that produce a dermonecrotic toxin (DNT), which is also called osteolytic toxin, are associated with the severe progressive form of the disease and are therefore considered to be the major etiologic agents. P. multocida subsp. multocida strains that do not produce the toxin do not cause atrophic rhinitis (4, 10, 13;
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