Untersuchungen an Taylorella equigenitalis: Zellwandproteine, Genomfingerprints, Plasmide, Adhäsion und Toxizität

Abstract

Investigations on Taylorella equigenitalis: cell wall proteins, DNA-fingerprints, plasmids, adhesion and cytotoxicityIn this study 55 strains of Taylorella equigenitalis isolated from horses of four different studs in Austria, and a comparative strain from the Federal Republic of Germany were investigated by different methods. These investigations were carried out with the help of SDS-PAGE, immunoblotting, the analyses of genoms and by proof of plasmids. Furthermore, pathogenic mechanisms such as adhesion or the formation of toxins were investigated in vitro.O n the basis of the results carried out by means of SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting all tested strains of Taylorella equigenitalis were alike, whereas by D N A analyses the strains could be divided into five groups. The comparative strain from the FRG, which clearly differed from the Austrian strains, formed one group all by itself.From three studs, which are related to each other because of an intensive exchange of horses, representatives (n = 5 3 ) of three D N A fingerprint groups were isolated. These three fingerprint patterns were very similar to each other, while the hybridisation patterns from the other two Austrian strains were very different. One of these strains, isolated from a diseased mare, could not he distinguished from the other strain isolated from a clinical healthy stallion from the same stud by this method.Only 47.3 ' %" from the investigated strains showed attachment to HeLa cells, while cell extracts of all of them caused morphological changes of a varying degree of both Yl and Vero cells. There were no connexions between these adhesion-cytotoxicity-properties and the D N A fingerprint groups as well as the studs, respectively.No plasmids were found in the Taylorella equigenitalis strains used in this study. EinleitungContagious equine metritis organism (CEMO), d e r Erreger d e r ,,contagious equine metritis" (CEM), einer Genitalinfektion d e r Pferde, w u r d e erstmals von PLATT u n d U.S.Cupyrighr (:I~.anncc Center Code Statement: 0931 -1793/91/3808-0589$02.50/0