CHARACTERIZATION OF AUSTRALIAN ISOLATES OF ACTINOBACILLUS-CAPSULATUS,ACTINOBACILLUS-EQUULI, PASTEURELLA-CABALLI AND BISGAARD TAXA-9 AND TAXA-11

Objective The objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive ph enotypic characterisation of 16 isolates of bacteria previously identi fied as Actinobacillus equuli Design The 16 isolates that had been obt ained from Australian animals - 15 from horses and one from a rabbit w ere compared with reference strains of A equuli, A capsulatus, Pasteur ella caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11. Results The characterisation study demonstrated that only nine of the isolates were A equuli. The o ther isolates were identified as A capsulatus (the isolate from rabbit ), P caballi (one isolate), Bisgaard Taxon II (two isolates) and Bisga ard Taxon 9 (one isolate). The final two isolates could not be assigne d to any recognised species or taxa. Conclusion This study has highlig hted the importance of a complete characterisation of Actinobacillus-l ike organisms isolated from horses and rabbits. The study represents t he first time that A capsulatus, P caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and If have been recognised as being present in Australia.