Immunogenicity of potassium thiocyanate extract of type A Pasteurella multocida

The immunogenicity and cross-protectivity of potassium thiocyanate (KSCN) extracts from Type A Pasteurella multocida strains were evaluated in mice. Mice administered KSCN extracts showed signs of depression for several hours following immunization. These extracts induced protection against challenge with the virulent homologous bacterium although many of the surviving mice were clinically ill up to 72 h after challenge exposure. There was no consistent reciprocal protection between different strains of the serotype indicating lack of correlation between serotype and cross-immunogenicity. Antigenic analysis of KSCN extracts by crossed immunoelectrophoresis techniques revealed greater than or equal to 25 different antigenic components. When the antigenic content of P-2383 and P-1062 KSCN extracts were compared, most antigenic components were common to both; however, two strain-specific and antigenic components were identified with homologous and heterologous antisera. One component present in each of the extracts gave a precipitation line similar to that produced by a crude lipopolysaccharide extracted from the organism. This component was isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The component isolated from P-2383 KSCN extract sedimented rapidly, indicating a high molecular weight material, and contained 12% carbohydrate and 27% protein. Immunization of mice with this component induced resistance to challenge with the homologous strain and some degree of protection against certain heterologous strains.