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The antimicrobial activity of linear, cationic alpha-helical peptides from cattle (BMAP28), sheep (SMAP28 and SMAP29), and pigs (PMAP23) were assessed to determine if activity was selective for Pasteurella multocida from a particular animal species or broad-spectrum against all P. multocida tested. The antimicrobial activities of synthetic peptides were determined for P. multocida isolated from cattle (10 isolates), sheep (10 isolates), and pigs (10 isolates) in a broth microdilution assay. All thirty isolates of P. multocida were susceptible to BMAP28 (MICs and MBCs, 1.0-1.9 microM); SMAP28 and SMAP29 (MICs and MBCs, 0.2-0.7 microM); and PMAP23 (MICs and MBCs, 4.3 to > or = 6.8 microM). Overall, the results of this study suggest that synthesized cathelicidins from cattle, sheep, and pigs had broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against all P. multocida.

Capsules of Pasteurella multocida serogroups A, D and F contain mucopolysaccharides which block antigenic determinants and prevent phagocytosis. In this study, capsules of serogroup A, D and F strains of P. multocida were depolymerized by enzyme treatment. Capsule depolymerization of serogroup D and F strains with chondroitinase increased indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test titers and enhanced phagocytosis by swine neutrophils. Capsule depolymerization of serogroup A strains with hyaluronidase increased IHA titers, but depolymerization with chondroitinase did not. When serogroup A strains were treated with a combination of chondroitinase and hyaluronidase, IHA test titers were lower than titers of the same strains treated with hyaluronidase alone. Combined enzyme treatment of serogroup D strains resulted in IHA test titers similar to those of chondroitinase treatment alone.

Rats were vaccinated with a toxoid (D-toxoid) prepared from purified heat-labile toxin (D-toxin) produced by Pasteurella multocida serogroup D. Vaccination of rats with D-toxoid prevented death and other effects of D-toxin (hepatic necrosis, development of elevated leukocyte counts, lymphopenia, neutrophilia, and elevated complement titers) that occurred in phosphate buffered saline (PBS)-vaccinated control rats.

This study was designed to investigate the carrier state of swine infected with Salmonella choleraesuis. Thirty-five pigs were divided into 3 groups. Groups 1 (n = 15) and 2 (n = 16) were challenged with 10’ CFW of S. choleraesuis intranasally or by gastric route, respectively. Group 3 (n = 4) served as uninoculated controls. Pigs were necropsied at 2, 4, 6, and 12 weeks post inoculation. Clinical signs and microscopic lesions were more severe for group 1. Salmonella choleraesuis was recovered from a greater percentage of tissue samples for group 1 versus group 2 at 2, 4, and 6 weeks post inoculation. No differences were observed between groups at 12 weeks post inoculation. Regardless of route of inoculation, S. choleraesuis was most often recovered from the ileocolic junction, ileocolic lymph node, cecal contents, tonsil, lung and colon. Both groups shed S. choleraesuis in the feces sporadically throughout the 12 week period indicating that a carrier state is maintained for at least 12 weeks. However, group 1 shed higher numbers of S. choleruesuis initially. Serum IgG, IgM, and IgA antibody responses to S. choleruesuis lipopolysaccharide and heat extract antigens were observed for both groups. Higher serum IgG antibody titers to S. choleraesuis lipopolysaccharide were observed for group 2. Intestinal antibody responses for both groups included IgG and IgM responses but not an IgA response. Both routes of inoculation stimulated peripheral blood B-cells while the intranasal route (group 1) was more effective at stimulating peripheral blood T-cells. The reduction in levels of tissues infection and shedding observed for both groups coincided with the development of the host innnune response. These data indicate that route of inoculation affects the development of humoral and cellular immunity, influences levels of Salmonella shed into the environment and the distribution of Salmonella within tissue.

Two different doses of glutaraldehyde-treated Pasteurella multocida dermonecrotic toxin (PMDT) were used to immunize rats. Rats developed serum IgG antibodies specific for native PMDT, and IgG titers increased with dose and number of toxoid immunizations. Survival rates in both active immunization and passive serum neutralization experiments were dependent on dose of toxoid vaccination and serum levels of anti-PMDT IgG. Vaccination with toxoid prevented weight loss but not leukocytosis and increased complement titers in toxin-challenged rats. Toxoid, itself, induced minimal leukocytosis but no alterations in complement titers or weight gain.