Detection by In-situ Hybridization of Pasteurella multocida Toxin (toxA) Gene in the Lungs of Naturally Infected Pigs

In-situ hybridization with a non-radioactive digoxigenin-labelled probe was used to detect the Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT) gene in tissue sections of pneumonic lung from pigs naturally infected with toxigenic P. multocida. The morphology of host cells was preserved despite the relatively high temperature used in the incubation procedure. Pulmonary abscessation was observed in 13 pigs naturally infected with toxigenic P. multocida type A (three pigs) or D (10 pigs). In these 13 pigs a strong hybridization signal for PMT DNA was detected, mainly in degenerate leucocytes in abscesses. Occasionally, PMT DNA was detected in degenerate neutrophils and macrophages in alveolar spaces. Detection of hybridization signals for PMT DNA would seem to be a potential indicator of the production of PMT. The study suggested that PMT plays an important role in pulmonary abscessation caused by P. multocida.