Detection of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae in drinking water from pig farms.
Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the aetiological agent of porcine pleuropneumonia and is normally transmitted by aerosols and direct contact between animals. A. pleuropneumoniae has traditionally been considered an obligate pathogen of pigs and its presence in the environment has yet to be investigated. Here, the presence of A. pleuropneumoniae was detected in drinking water of pig farms in Mexico using a PCR specific for the RTX toxin gene, apxIV. The presence of A. pleuropneumoniae in farm drinking water was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence using an A. pleuropneumoniae-specific polyclonal antibody and by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Viable bacteria from the farm drinking water were detected using the Live/Dead BacLight stain. Additionally, viable A. pleuropneumoniae was selected and isolated using the cAMP test and the identity of the isolated bacteria were confirmed by Gram staining, a specific polyclonal antibody and an A. pleuropneumoniae-specific PCR. Furthermore, biofilms were observed by scanning electron microscopy in A. pleuropneumoniae-positive samples. In conclusion, our data suggest that viable A. pleuropneumoniae is present in the drinking water of swine farms and may use biofilm as a strategy to survive in the environment.
Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Ags., C. P. 20131, Mexico.
Victor M
VM
Loera-Muro
Groupe de recherche sur la maladies infectieuses du porc, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada.
Mario
M
Jacques
Groupe de recherche sur la maladies infectieuses du porc, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, St-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 7C6, Canada.
Yannick D N
YDN
Tremblay
Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Ags., C. P. 20131, Mexico.
Francisco J
FJ
Avelar-González
Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Ags., C. P. 20131, Mexico.
Abraham
A
Loera Muro
Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Ags., C. P. 20131, Mexico.
Elsa M
EM
Ramírez-López
Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Ags., C. P. 20131, Mexico.
Alejandra
A
Medina-Figueroa
Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Ags., C. P. 20131, Mexico.
Higinio M
HM
González-Reynaga
Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Tisular, Departamento de Morfología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Ags., C. P. 20131, Mexico.
Alma L
AL
Guerrero-Barrera
D016977:Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008800:Mexico; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013552:Swine
C122177:ApxIVA protein, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D060766:Drinking Water