Isolation of an atypical strain of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 with a truncated lipopolysaccharide outer core and no O-antigen

A field isolate of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the causative agent of porcine fibrinohemorrhagic necrotizing pleuropneumonia, was sent to the diagnostic laboratory for serotyping. The isolate presented a clear reaction, with both polyclonal antibodies against serotype I and monoclonal antibodies against the capsular polysaccharide of serotype 1. It also exhibited a PCR profile of Apx toxins expected for serotype I. The isolate, however, failed to react with monoclonal antibodies against the O-antigen of serotype I lipopolysaccharide (LPS), suggesting a rough phenotype. The lipid A-core region of the isolate migrated faster than the corresponding region of the serotype I reference strain S4074 by Tricine-sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, suggesting the presence of a truncated core. Sugar analysis and mass spectrometry analysis of the O-deacylated LPS from the field isolate were consistent with the absence of O-antigen and truncation of the outer core compared to the wild-type reference strain. Experimental infection of pigs confirmed the virulence of the isolate. This is the first report of an isolate of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype I with a truncated outer core and a rough LPS phenotype. Veterinary diagnostic laboratories should be vigilant, since infections caused by such an isolate will not be detected by serologicall tests based on LPS O-antigen.