Colonization and antibody response in mice and rats experimentally infected with Pasteurellaceae from different rodent species

Abstract

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

Transmission of rat and guineapig Haemophilus spp. to mice and rats

“…The apparent absence of Hae-mophi1us in cultures from exposed rats in experiment Gp3, despite the presence of antibodies, may of course be due, for example, to overgrowth by other bacteria, but the outcome of the experiment agrees with the observation that strains showing API codes Laboratory Animals (2000) 34 7162 lclassed as H. aphrophilusl paraphrophilus by the test system) or 7360 (classed as H. parainfluenzael have until now been cultured only from guineapigs (Boot et al 1999). [P.]pneumotropica was, however, readily transmitted from guineapigs to the rats which is in line with previous studies in which [P.] pneumotropica was easily transmitted from mice, hamsters and gerbils to rats (Boot et al 1994). It is unclear however why so few guineapigs seroconverted to the [P.]pneumotropica.…”

“…1994 (Boot et al 1999). [P.]pneumotropica was, however, readily transmitted from guineapigs to the rats which is in line with previous studies in which [P.] pneumotropica was easily transmitted from mice, hamsters and gerbils to rats (Boot et al 1994). It is unclear however why so few guineapigs seroconverted to the [P.]pneumotropica.…”

“…were not epidemiologically related (Table 1). All sources were claimed to be free of Pasteurellaceae and the other pathogenic microorganisms by the supplier, but Haemophilus infection was detected in these groups by culture and by detection of antibodies against Pasteurellaceae antigens, as described previously pneumotropica pneumotropica G-pig = guineapig; n.d. = not done (Boot et al 1994(Boot et al /95, 1995(Boot et al , 1996(Boot et al , 1999. The API NH, cell wall lipid profiles and some serological properties of the Haemophilus strains present in the rats and guineapigs have been described (Boot et al 1996(Boot et al , 1999.…”