title: Pasteurella pneumotropica and the prevalence of the AHP (Actinobacillus, Haemophilus, Pasteurella)-group in laboratory animals.
abstract: 134 bacterial isolates originally identified as Pasteurella pneumotropica were cultured from healthy, ill or dead mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and cats originating from 7 conventional laboratory animal facilities. They occurred seldom in pure culture and were found in a variety of organs. Thorough identification (41 criteria) revealed that only 83 isolates (62%) were P. pneumotropica and could be subdivided into 3 biotypes. 3 isolates were P. aerogenes, 1 was P. ureae, 11 (8%) were qualified as Actinobacillus spp. and 13 (10%) as Haemophilus spp. Close relationship of the 3 genera--the 'AHP-group' --made the differentiation difficult. 23 atypical cultures were discarded at the beginning of the study as not belonging to the 'AHP-group'. Two-thirds of isolates were associated with inflammation or suppuration; Haemophilus spp. seemed to be more pathogenic than Pasteurella and Actinobacillus species.
mesh_terms: D000188:Actinobacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D006224:Cricetinae; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006190:Haemophilus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D051379:Mice; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D010325:Pasteurella / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats