A multiplex polymerase chain reaction to detect and differentiate Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus and Campylobacter fetus -species venerealis: use on UK isolates of C. fetus and other Campylobacter spp.

Aims: Subspeciation of Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus (CFF) and Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (CFV) is important for international animal import regulations.

Association of LPS chemotype of Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica A1 with disease virulence in a model of ovine pneumonic pasteurellosis.

Host responses during pneumonic pasteurellosis were compared in sheep infected with strains of Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica A1 differing in their O-antigen type. Nine-week-old, specific pathogen-free lambs were infected intratracheally with parainfluenza type 3 virus (10(8) TCID(50)) followed 7 days later by 5-6 x 10(7) CFU of M. haemolytica A1 possessing rough (group R, 6 lambs) or smooth (group S, 6 lambs) lipopolysaccharide, or saline (group C, 4 lambs).

Characterization of United Kingdom isolates of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Caseous lymphadenitis is a chronic suppurative disease caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis and is responsible for serious economic losses to the sheep and goat industry. Caseous lymphadenitis was first reported for goats in the United Kingdom in 1990 and for sheep in 1991. Recent evidence suggests that the prevalence of the disease within the national flock is increasing.

Investigations on the species specificity of Mannheimia (Pasteurella) haemolytica serotyping.

Eleven serotypes (1, 2, 5-9, 12-14 and 16) have been demonstrated within Mannheimia haemolytica. Subsequent serotyping of 166 Mannheimia haemolytica-like strains, genetically and phenotyphically distinct from Mannheimia haemolytica, and isolated from ruminants, pigs, hares and rabbits showed that 13.2% were typeable, 19 of which were serotype 11 representing strains now being classified as M.