Bordetella parapertussis from lambs

Authors: Cullinane LC, Manktelow BW, Marshall RB, Alley MR
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 35, Issue 10, pp 175, Oct 1987
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Respiratory system, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Pneumonia/pleurisy
Article class: Correspondence

---

Abstract: An organism identified as, Bordetella parapertussis has been isolated in significant numbers from nasal swabs, bronchial washings and the lungs of 6-10 month old lambs showing signs of pneumonia. It has also been isolated from normal lambs but attempts to recover it from aduit sheep have so far been unsuccessful. This is the first report of the isolation of B. parapertussis from other than humans, where it causes a mild form of whooping tough. It is probable that the failure of others to isolate B. parapertussis from lambs is due to the fact that lung tissue is the usual material investigated from lambs with pneumonia. Lung tissue provided us with a low rate of recovery a much higher rate was gained from bronchial washings and nasal swabs. Another important factor is that the organism requires to be incubated for up to seven days and if other bacteria are present, persistent subculturing may be necessary before a pure culture can be obtained for identification. The colonial morphology of the ovine isolates is indistinguishable from that of B. parapertussis NTC5952 and although the biochemical reactions show slight variations, they are identical in all important aspects. The notable differences are the…

---