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

Abstract

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.

Phylogenetic relationship of Pasteurella pneumotropica Isolates from Laboratory Rodents Based on 16S rDNA Sequence

“…In addition, Haemophilus spp., which is closely related to P. pneumotropica and prefers V-factor in the media, could be transmitted from rats to mice and from guinea pigs to rats, but could not be transmitted from guinea pigs to mice [2]. Recently, P. pneumotropica isolates and their closely related species were divided into six clusters based on the 16S rDNA sequence [7], and the phylogenetic analysis in this study also discriminated similar clusters.…”

Rat strains differ in antibody response to natural Haemophilus species infection

“…In both studies, BN rats were among the best responding strains. Differences in response among the rat strains are not likely a result of too short an exposure period, as source rats and exposed rats were housed within the same cage (direct contact) and transmission of Haemophilus infection between animals in different cages occurred readily in another study (Boot et al 2000).…”