Host response to Pasteurella multocida turbinate atrophy toxin in swine

A porcine strain of Pasteurella multocida (serotype D:3) produced a toxin causing turbinate atrophy (TA) in pigs. The toxin (TAT), processed on a high performance liquid chromatography size exclusion column, eluted as a single peak (molecular weight of about 160,000) containing trace amounts of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS; protein:LPS, 85:1). The eluted fraction migrated on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels as a single band. It could be prevented from dissociating into two prominent polypeptides by addition of a protease inhibitor. A single dose (2.0 to 79.0 micrograms/kg) of TAT given to pigs intravenously was lethal. Doses from 0.02 to 1.0 microgram/kg caused transient clinical signs of porcine systemic toxicosis with reduced appetite, generalized weakness, depression, lethargy, weight loss, and in some instances, death. Intradermal doses of TAT (greater than or equal to 0.1 microgram/site) produced hemorrhagic areas within four hours. Systemically, TAT causes bilateral TA, lymphopenia, liver dysfunctions, and possible renal impairment. Affinity of TAT for cells of epithelial origin was demonstrated in mice given 125I-TAT. In vitro, TAT stimulated DNA and protein syntheses of peripheral blood lymphocytes and suppressed syntheses in turbinate and kidney cell cultures without being cytolytic. Biological effects of TAT were eliminated by exposure to either heat, trypsin or anti-TAT antibody.