ACTINOBACILLUS (HAEMOPHILUS) PLEUROPNEUMONIAE .1. HISTORY, EPIDEMIOLOGY, SEROTYPING, AND TREATMENT

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae is the causative agent of swine pleuro pneumonia, a severe and often fatal disease of swine. The organism is found worldwide, and 12 serotypes are known to exist. Serotypes 1, 5, and 7 are found most often in the United States. Actinobacillus pleuro pneumoniae requires nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide for growth and i s routinely isolated on blood agar plates containing nicotinamide aden ine dinucleotide in some form. Lung damage may be extensive in any sta ge. Asymptomatic carriers present the biggest problem for disease cont rol. Serotype specificity is mediated by capsule components found on t he cell surface of the bacterium.