Growth ability and immunological properties of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae serotype 2

Five field strains of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae belonging to serotype 2 were compared for their growth ability, immunogenicity in mice, SDS-PAGE profile of cell surface proteins and their immunoblotting patterns. Strain Tama-96 showed the most stable growth in Feist medium and tryptose phosphate broth with Tween 80 (TPB), and its immunogenicity was highest in a mouse protection test using the inactivated vaccines prepared from 20-h TPB culture. The 50% mouse protective dose of the vaccine was only 12 microliter. SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting patterns of the proteins were similar among the strains in general and indicated that 66 to 64 kDa protein antigens were dominant.