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An unidentified bacterium responsible for epizootic haemorrhagic septicaemic disease in rainbow trout was recently described. This organism exhibited some antigenic similarity to Brucella abortus and to Yersinia ruckeri and was presumed to belong to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Further biochemical characterization and DNA relatedness studies showed that pathogenic fish strains are Hafnia alvei.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) purified from 16 reference somatic serotypes of Pasteurella multocida were examined and compared by discontinuous sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Resolution of LPS patterns in a gel was optimum when sample wells were cast separately from the stacking gel and the running gel consisted of 15% T (total monomer) polyacrylamide and 4 M deionized urea. Band patterns of P. multocida LPSs in a gel differed from control Salmonella minnesota wild-type and core mutant LPSs. Although the band patterns and mobilities of LPSs from some P. multocida reference serotypes were similar, none were identical. Evidence for O antigens similar to those produced by enterobacteria was not observed. Proteinase K digestion of whole P. multocida cells resulted in LPS band patterns similar to those of purified LPS. The presence or absence of a capsule on a strain had no major influence on band patterns in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparisons of LPS patterns of group B and E hemorrhagic septicemia strains with those of serologically related group A strains of P. multocida indicated that they were similar. Typing antisera made with purified serotype 2 or 5 LPS reacted with electroblots of all these strains. However, the reactions did not distinguish strains as being serotype 2 or 5.

SIR, — Haemorrhagic septicaemia is a common disease in many countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. It is the infectious disease causing the most fatalities in cattle and buffaloes in some of these countries. Governments in many countries attempt control by vaccination. Inactivated vaccines

Une septicémie hémorragique (SH) a été induite expérimentalement chez des veaux de sept mois (n = 2) par inoculation intratrachéale de 1010 unités formant colonies d’une culture de Pasteurella multocida sérotype E:2 de 6 h en phase de croissance exponentielle pour étudier l’aspect clinicopathologique de l’infection et faire l’analyse microbiologique. La période d’incubation a duré quatre heures après l’infection. La série de signes cliniques généraux, classés par ordre de leur manifestation, ont été les suivants : fièvre, anorexie, dyspnée, gonflement de la région gorge-membres avants, tympanisme, jetage, salivation abondante, léthargie, décubitus et mort. A la nécropsie, les lésions prédominantes observées ont été : congestion pulmonaire avec symphyse pleurale des lobes craniaux, pleurésie, gonflement oedémateux du pharynx et du fanon avec exsudation d’un liquide jaunâtre semblable au sérum, et hémorragies dermiques et ecchymotiques. L’analyse histologique a révélé que les lésions pulmonaires étaient typiques de celles de la broncho-pneumonie fibrineuse avec épaississement des parois alvéolaires, congestion, oedèmes et réponse cellulaire des poumons. A la nécropsie, P. multocida sérotype E:2 a été à nouveau isolé bactériologiquement des poumons, des noeuds lymphatiques, du foie, des reins, de la rate, du fluide oedémateux et du sang cardiaque. Cet agent pathogène n’a pas été détecté dans le sang veineux jusqu’à quelques heures avant la mort. Les aspects cliniques et pathologiques observés sur les animaux ont montré des ressemblances frappantes avec P. multocida sérotype B:2 HS. Ces données devraient permettre aux vétérinaires de reconnaître les cas suspects de SH sur le terrain.

Trois cent trente moutons provenant de deux troupeaux différents ont été examinés pour des manifestations respiratoires comportant un écoule-ment nasal séreux à mucopurulent, de la dyspnée, de la toux et un état général légèrement affecté. Cinquante-cinq animaux (16,6 %) ont été malades, et 13 (3,9 %) sont morts. Des prélèvements ont été effectués sur les cadavres, les malades et les animaux encore en bonne santé. Pasteurella haemolytica A2 a été identifiée sur 18 isolats. Le sérotype a été effectué par la méthode d'agglutination rapide sur plaque (RPA). La réponse aux antibiotiques a été testée et le traitement institué au vu des résultats.

Pour la première fois au Cameroun, une souche de Pasteurella multocida de sérotype B6 a été isolée d'un foyer de septicémie hémorragique sur des zébus dans la région de Maga (Province de l'Extrême-Nord du pays). Par une épreuve sur souris, il a été montré qu'il n'y avait pas de protection croisée entre cette souche et une souche de Pasteurella multocida de type E6 utilisée pour produire le vaccin contre la pasteurellose bovine au Cameroun. L'utilisation d'un vaccin mixte incluant les sérotypes E6 et B6 est donc recommandée pour les pays d'Afrique centrale et d'Afrique de l'Ouest.

Une étude a été menée sur l’occurrence des sérotypes de Pasteurella multocida dans trois grandes zones d’élevage bovin du Cameroun. Au total, 362 échantillons de sérum bovin ont été collectés dans les provinces de l’Extrême-Nord, de l’Adamaoua et du Nord-Ouest, et testés afin de détecter la présence d’anticorps vis-à-vis de cinq sérotypes de P. multocida (A5, A7, B1, B6 et E6) par le test d’hémagglutination. Le sérotype B6 a été présent dans toutes les régions, avec la fréquence la plus élevée (84,4 p. 100) dans la région de Mora et la plus faible (43,6 p. 100) dans celle de Meiganga. Les autres sérotypes ont aussi été présents mais à des niveaux différents. Les résultats montrent la nécessité d’incorporer le sérotype B6 dans le vaccin contre la septicémie hémorragique actuellement utilisé au Cameroun.

Pasteurella multocida, a Gram-negative coccobacillus, is part of the normal oral flora of many types of animals, including domestic dogs and cats. It is the etiologic agent of a variety of infectious diseases, such as hemorrhagic septicemia in cattle or fowl cholera in chicken. Although this is a primary pathogen in the animal world, infection due to Pasteurella multocida in man has been described with increasing frequency recently. The majority of individuals with Pasteurella multocida pulmonary infection possess some underlying pulmonary diseases, most commonly bronchiectasis or COPD. With a review of literature, We report a young man who developed the empyema caused by Pasteurella multocida.

An acute hemorrhagic septicemia in a captive ground-hornbill (Bucorvus abyssinicus) is reported. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from lungs, liver, kidney, and intestines. Postmortem lesions were characterized by hemorrhages in the internal organs. Microscopically, necrotic lesions were found in the liver, lungs, and kidney. Factors that might have contributed to the clinical disease condition are discussed.

SUMMARY This paper presents a study on 155 isolates of Pasteurella multocida isolated from different outbreaks of haemorrhagic septicaemia (HS) throughout Malaysia. This organism was also isolated from the lymph nodes of the upper respiratory tract of nine out of 800 healthy cattle and buffaloes examined in the State of Perak. They were subjected to cultural and biochemical examinations. All 164 strains produced indole, oxidase and catalase. None of the strains fermented rhamnose, raffinose, starch, inulin, adonitol, dulcitol, inositol, salicin or aesculin. Of the fermentable sugars the positive reactions ranged from 0·6 to 91%. They were all serotyped by the passive mouse protection test (MPT) and 117 of them were subjected to the haemagglutination (HA) test. Of the 117 strains which were subjected to both the MPT and HA test, 92 belonged to Carter’s type B, three belonged to Carter’s type D and 22 could not be classified as types A, B, D or E (untypeable) by the MPT, whereas by the HA test 77 belonged to Carter’s type B, four belonged to Carter’s type D and 36 were untypeable. No distinct group pattern was observed between the biochemical reactions and the serological types.

The hematological and histopathological changes in mummichogs infected by Pseudomonas reptilivora included a dramatic reduction in hematocrit values; massive structural lymphoid necrosis with formation of edematous spaces in the splenic tissue; empty and degenerate hepatic veins and sinusoids; and necrosis of the renal tubules in naturally and experimentally infected fish. Electron microscopy of the renal tissue revealed clumps of chromatin in the nuclei, disintegration or degeneration of organelles, and an increase of digestive vesicles or autophagic vacuoles in the cells. This is the first description of the pathology of this bacteria in a marine fish. Key words: fish disease, Pseudomonas, bacteria, hemorrhagic septicemia

Two acute fish diseases, hemorrhagic septicemia, caused by Aeromonas punctata Snieszko and saprolegniasis caused by Saprolegnia parasitica Coker, were observed in an Indian major carp, Labeo rohita (Ham.). Common carp ( Cyprinus carpio Linn.) suffered only from early stages of hemorrhagic septicemia. The diseases were prevalent only in winter and in tanks with a high organic load.

Elective splenectomies performed in children aged 0-14 during the period 1968 to 1977 have been reviewed. One hundred and twelve children were splenectomized during the period studied. The indication for splenectomy was usually a haematological disorder e.g. hereditary spherocytosis or idiopathic thrombocytopenia. As splenectomized children run the risk of developing overwhelming sepsis, inquiries have been sent to all children. Two cases of nonfatal pneumococcal septicaemia are reported. Although the incidence of septicaemia is low, spleensaving operations are to be preferred where possible. When splenectomy is performed, pneumococcal antibodies should be determined. If a low titre is found, polyvalent pneumococcal vaccine should be used.

Summary: Two oil-adjuvant vaccines of Pasteurella multocida Robert's type 1 were prepared and evaluated for induction of an immune response in buffalo calves. Adjuvant 1 was a water-in-oil emulsion and contained Marcol 52, Montanide 103 and antigen in ratios of 6:1:3. Adjuvant 2 was a double emulsion and contained Marcol 52, Arlacel A and Tween 80 besides antigen. Viscosity of the adjuvants was low (easily injectable) and the oil phase did not separate upon centrifugation at 1,000 g for 30 minutes or standing at room temperature for 30 days. Both preparations induced sustained high antibody titres in buffalo calves beyond 230 days after vaccination.

Two serogroups (B and E) of Pasteurella multocida associated with hemorrhagic septicemia in cattle were differentiated by a coagglutination test with antibody-coated staphylococci. The group antigen was soluble and heat stable. It was not detectable in unencapsulated cells or their heated extracts. Adsorbed onto human type O erythrocytes, it could be demonstrated by an indirect hemagglutination test with specific antiserum or by coagglutination with specific antibody-coated staphylococci. Antibody-coated staphylococci could detect the soluble group antigen in the plasma and liver extract of mice experimentally infected with P. multocida. The group antigen did not affix to mouse erythrocytes in vivo.

SUMMARY Healthy cattle carriers in association with an outbreak of haemorrhagic septicaemia were found to be 44.4% of the population in comparison with 3.89%, 5.5% and nil in herds unassociated with the disease. Healthy carrier rate was always higher in calves less than two years old than in adult cattle.

A number of investigations with regard to correlations usually assumed to exist between hemorrhagic septicemia organisms has hitherto been published, but it is at present yet impossible to differenciate them with distinction, as the results obtained by those who have worked with the organisms are not in agreement.Employing B. bubalisepticus, B. suisepticus, B. avisepticus and B. bovisepticus I have made some experiments in connection with these problems and came to the following conclusions:1. Morphology, growth on ordinary culture media, indol production, hemolytic property, bacteriolysis in bile, fermentation test etc. showed no satisfactory evidence as to their identification.2. No distinction could be obtained from their pathogenicity for mice, rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits and pigeons inoculated or fed with the organisms and also from the postmortem appearances of the experimental animals.3. Cross agglutination test employing an immune serum obtained from the rabbit inoculated with dead organisms showed that the correlation between the organisms is highly complicated and no specificity could be distinguished in any of them. Agglutinin absorption test gave likewise no satisfactory results, although when employed an immune serum from the guinea-pig inoculated with living organisms the occurence of group reactions was less remarkable and consequently in a certain organisms specificity could be distinguished. Complement fixation test with those sera showed there are so many group reactions that no specificity could be found in any of the organisms. If, however, the complement fixation titres were taken into consideration the organisms could be specified in more or less noticeable degree, but not satisfactory enough for the identfication of them.4. Active and passive animal protection tests with mice showed in no case so markedly a specificity as to enable us to identify the organisms.Briefly speaking, it may be assumed that some of hemorrha- gic septicemia organisms may have their specificity, but it is quite impossible to differenciate them by virtue of the specificity which is generally so undistinguished.

Inorganic iron substances of known chemical structure have been tested for their ability to function as the X factor in the growth of bacteria of the hemophilic, anaerobic) and hemorrhagic septicemia groups. Each iron compound possessing this biocatalytic activity showed oxygen-absorbing and peroxidase properties. The interrelation of these mechanisms is discussed.

The value of the bacteriophage as a therapeutic agent has been investigated extensively both experimentally and clinically. In the attempt to utilize the highly potent homologous bacteriophage to control experimental mouse typhoid some years ago, one of us found that it did not influence the course of the experimental infection produced by feeding of B. pestis caviae to mice. These experiments indicated that the ineffectiveness of bacteriophage therapy was due to the failure on the part of the bacteriophage to destroy the susceptible bacteria and not to the production of phage resistant strains.1 Other investigators2 and particularly Topley, Wilson and Lewis3 also used bacteriophage in mouse typhoid caused by B. aertrycke and came to a similar conclusion. They found that the infected mice eliminated the organisms in the excreta even though bacteriophage was fed to them over a period of three months. Aside from the reports of successful application of bacteriophage therapy by d'Herelle4 in the hemorrhagic septicemia of buffalo (Barbone), and in typhoid of fowls, the reports of results of bacteriophage therapy in experimental infections have been uniformly disappointing.5 Although clinical success of bacteriophage therapy has been reported in such diseases as bacillary dysentery, typhoid fever, cystitis and pyelitis, plague and cholera, the pyogenic infections have received by far the most attention. A large number of clinicians used local applications of staphylococcus bacteriophage in the treatment of boils and related infections, Brynoghe and Maisin6 being apparently the first to have reported favorable

A respiratory infection commonly called infectious pneumonia, or hemorrhagic septicemia, has long been known to affect sheep. In the typical form there is an acute pneumonia with hemorrhagic lesions most evident on the serous surfaces of the lungs and heart. An intense septicemia usually occurs at death, and a highly pathogenic organism of the pasteurella group may be almost constantly isolated from the heart blood either by direct inoculation on blood agar or by inoculation of rabbits, which are very susceptible to pasteurella infections.

A heat-stable, particulate, lipopolysaccharide-protein antigenic complex has been isolated from a virulent, encapsulated strain of Pasteurella multocida by extraction with cold, formalinized saline, and centrifugation at 105,000 × g . The original bacterial culture had been obtained from a bison that died of hemorrhagic septicemia, an infectious disease of cattle and buffalo. Injection of fractional milligram amounts of the antigen into mice, rabbits, and calves produced toxic reactions which frequently resulted in death of the host. The surviving animals demonstrated a high degree of immunity to challenge with live, virulent organisms. Two injections with 15 μg of the antigen produced a high degree of immunity in mice without the development of any signs of toxicity. The gross chemical composition and toxicity of the antigen were similar to those reported for endotoxins obtained by the Boivin or Westphal procedure. Although strong serological cross-reactions were obtained in Ouchterlony plates between the 105,000 × g antigens from the bison strain and an avian strain with antisera to these strains, these antisera agglutinated only the bacterial cells of the homologous strain. The active immunity obtained in mice by the injection of the 105,000 × g antigens of each strain was specific and could be correlated with the agglutination tests.

PASTEURELLA multocida is a small, gram-negative and nonmotile rod that frequently causes diseases known as hemorrhagic septicemia in lower animals and cholera in chickens. It has previously been known by various names including Past, avicida, Past, boviseptica and Past. suiseptica. The name Past. multocida has been adopted for all these forms because they are bacteriologically identical. Most reported cases in human beings consist of localized infections after animal bites. A local pyogenic reaction, with abscess formation and osteomyelitis of subjacent bone, is usual in the absence of specific therapy. Systemic infections, generally meningitis, have also been reported. Septicemia may . . .

Diseases of various animals, including the horse, ox, sheep, hog, fowl, and rabbit, have been described and the etiologic role in such conditions attributed to bacteria of the bipolaris septicus group. While these organisms are found under diverse conditions and in animals affected with what is commonly termed hemorrhagic septicemia, their pathogenicity is yet by no means clear, except perhaps in fowl cholera. The symptoms, and particularly the lesions of the disease, show a remarkable similarity in various hosts. The bacteria isolated therefrom agree in their morphologic features and cultural characteristics. The possibility exists that there is only a single organism, although there is little evidence to show that the various diseases are intertransmissible