ANTIGENIC AND RESTRICTION ENZYME ANALYSIS OF CAMPYLOBACTER SPP ASSOCIATED WITH ABORTION IN SHEEP

Objective-To determine the scope of strain variations among Campylobac ter spp associated with abortion in sheep. Design-To examine Campyloba cter spp isolated from cases of abortion for biochemical, antigenic, a nd genetic differences. Sample Population-15 isolates of Campylobacter spp isolated from cases of abortion during a single lambing season. P rocedure-Isolates were examined, using biochemical tests, sodium dodec yl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of outer membrane protei ns (OMP), and DNA restriction enzyme analysis (REA). Results-Eight str ain variants were detected among the 15 isolates. 14 of the isolates w ere C jejuni, 13 of which were biotype I and 1 biotype II, and the rem aining isolate was identified as C fetus subsp fetus. Five sodium dode cyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis OMP patterns had distin ctive profiles for C fetus subsp fetus and C jejuni biogroup-II isolat es and 3 variants within the C jejuni biogroup-I isolates. Examination of REA patterns of DNA from the 15 isolates digested with Cfo I indic ated clear differences correlating with species and biogroups and 4 RE A variants among biotype-l isolates. Conclusions-Marked antigenic and genetic heterogeneity of Campylobacter isolates were associated with o vine abortion within a defined geographic area. Clinical Relevance-Rep resentatives of differing OMP and REA profile groups should be conside red for incorporation in vaccines to optimize protection in this regio n and possibly other geographic areas.