Genetic and Phenotypic Comparison of Three New Avian Haemophilus-Like Taxa and of Haemophilus paragallinarum Biberstein and White 1969 with Other Members of the Family Pasteurellaceae Pohl 1981

Abstract

In the course of post-mortem bacteriological examinations, several previously unreported bacterial strains were isolated from budgerigars, pigeons, kestrels, and a goose. They have been separated into three distinct collectives according to their cultural, morphological, and biochemical characteristics. Since they require V factors, they were tentatively assigned to the genus Haemophilus Winslow et al. 1917. This preliminary classification was checked by determination of guanine + cytosine contents and genome sizes and by DNA:DNA hybridization tests among reference strains of the three new avian taxa and recognized species of the family Pasteurellaceae Pohl 1981. With the same methods, the genetic relationships of Haemophilus paragallinarum Biberstein and White 1969 within the family were determined. It could be shown that the three avian Haemophilus-like taxa have to be regarded as new species within the family Pasteurellaceae not affiliated with the recognized genera Actinobacillus, Haemophilus and Pasteurella. H. paragallinarum must be excluded from the genus Haemophilus because of its closer relationship to the actinobacilli. All strains investigated can be differentiated from each other and from recognized species of Pasteurellaceae using an appropriate set of biochemical tests.

Inter- and Intrafamilial Similarities of rRNA Cistrons of the Pasteurellaceae

“…Most strains belonging to the family Pasteurellaceae were grown primarily on chocolate agar (tryptic soy agar [Difco Laboratories] which after sterilization was supplemented with 5% [voVvol] sheep blood and was kept at 80°C for 15 min before pouring) in a moist atmosphere containing 5 to 10% carbon dioxide at 36°C. Mass cultures were propagated in Difco Proteose peptone medium (78) supplemented with yeast extract (0.5%, wthol), NAD, hematin, or thiamine monophosphate as previously described (12,47,(53)(54)(55).…”

An upper respiratory disease of commercial chickens resembling infectious coryza, but caused by a V factor‐independent bacterium

“…Piechulla et al (1985) and Blackall (1989) state that the haemophilic organisms isolated from birds are no longer comfortably accommodated in the genera Haemophilus. These authors have proposed that H. paragallinarum would be better placed in the genus Actinobacillus.…”

Avian pasteurellosis: Taxonomy of the organisms involved and aspects of pathogenesis

“…With the exception of Haemophilus-like organisms from kestrels (Piechulla et al, 1985a) all species of veterinary importance have been excluded from this genus (Mutters et al, 1989). The kestrel strains seem to represent a distinct taxonomic entity which requires species rank.…”

“…organisms have been obtained from budgerigars and pigeons suffering from rhinitis, sinusitis and pneumonia by Grebe & Hinz (1975). Additional isolates have subsequently been recovered from budgerigars, kestrels and pigeons with respiratory disturbances or septicaemia, and a goose with salpingitis (Piechulla et al, 1985a;Devriese et al, 1988). These isolates merit species rank (Piechulla et al, 1985a).…”

“…Additional isolates have subsequently been recovered from budgerigars, kestrels and pigeons with respiratory disturbances or septicaemia, and a goose with salpingitis (Piechulla et al, 1985a;Devriese et al, 1988). These isolates merit species rank (Piechulla et al, 1985a). The ecology of these organisms is not well understood.…”