Full text loading...
Abstract
Summary: Ninety-six Campylobacters were isolated from cattle, sheep, pigs and fowls, of which 40 were studied in detail. Characterization by routine biochemical tests indicated that all isolates were similar and that differences did not correspond with habitat or pathogenicity. The electrophoresis patterns of acid plus phenol-soluble proteins from the 40 Campylobacters allowed the isolates to be placed in three groups which correlated with habitat. Group I comprised all the Campylobacters from the bovine genital tract (these isolates were associated with infertility). Group II comprised all the strains isolated from cattle faeces and all the strains associated with sporadic abortions in cattle and sheep. Group III comprised all the Campylobacters from healthy pigs and from pigs with swine dysentery. Isolates could not be differentiated by electrophoresis of total soluble proteins. Isocitrate dehydrogenase and peroxidase electrophoresis patterns each allowed the pig Campylobacters to be differentiated from cattle and sheep Campylobacters, but did not allow finer differentiation. Malate dehydrogenase patterns, which were produced only by the pig Campylobacters, provided three groups but these did not correlate with isolation source. It is concluded that there is no qualitative difference in the Campylobacter population of the gut of healthy and dysenteric pigs.
- Received:
- Published Online: