Induction of pneumonia in rabbits by use of a purified protein toxin from Pasteurella multocida

• Published in: American journal of veterinary research Vol. 52; no. 1; p. 56
• Main Authors: Chrisp, C.E. (University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI), Foged, N.T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.01.1991
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Proteins; Bacterial Toxins - isolation & purification; Bacterial Toxins - toxicity; CONEJO (ORYCTOLAGUS); ENFERMEDADES RESPIRATORIAS; Female; Guinea Pigs; LAPIN; MALADIE RESPIRATOIRE; NEUMONIA; Pasteurella; PASTEURELLA MULTOCIDA; Pleurisy - chemically induced; Pneumonia - chemically induced; PNEUMONIE; PURIFICACION; PURIFICATION; Rabbits; RHINITE ATROPHIQUE; RINITIS ATROFICA; Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; TOXICIDAD; TOXICITE; TOXINAS; TOXINE
• ISSN: 0002-9645; 1943-5681
• DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.1991.52.01.56

Heat-labile toxin from a cell sonicate of a virulent type-D strain of Pasteurella multocida was purified by ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ion exchange chromatography, gel filtration chromatography, and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Toxic activity was assayed during toxin purification by cytopathic effect in Vero or bovine embryonic lung cell cultures. Toxicity for cells correlated with dermonecrosis in guinea pig skin. Toxicity was accounted for by a single protein with a molecular weight of 149,000, as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Rabbits were inoculated intranasally with purified toxin to determine whether toxin had a role in the induction of pneumonia in rabbits infected with P multocida. Pneumonia, pleuritis, acute hepatic necrosis, and splenic lymphoid atrophy were found in 4 of 5 rabbits. One of 5 rabbits had bilateral turbinate atrophy. Western blotting with monoclonal antibodies to toxin from a P multocida isolate causing atrophic rhinitis in pigs revealed the toxin that induces pleuritis and pneumonia in rabbits to be the same or a closely related toxin