Studies on the interactions of two different serotypes of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

In vitro and in vivo interactions of various field strains of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae of serotypes 1, 2, 5 and 7 were studied. There was no influence of one serotype over the other when strains belonging to two serotypes were cultivated together in vitro. In vivo interactions showed predominance of serotype 1 over other serotypes when a strain of serotype 1 was inoculated together with a strain of serotype 2 or 5 in mice. Serotype 1 strain remained predominant irrespective of whether it was inoculated before or after the inoculation of serotype 2 strain. The mortality caused by the inoculation of two strains was higher than the mortality caused by a single strain. Early mortality was observed on inoculation of strains of serotype 2, 5 or 7 along with a strain of serotype 1. Both serotypes could be detected in the blood on cultural examination of mice infected with mixed serotypes.