Haemophilus species

BACK TO INFECTIOUS AGENTS AND PARASITES BACK TO BACTERIA

• H. parasuis in Glasser's disease of pigs causes peritonitis, suppurative bronchopneumonia, pleuritis, pericarditis, (as part of polyserositis), meningitis, polyarthritis (also H. suis)
  • In pigs 5-16 weeks old
  • Acute septicaemia
  • Due to transport, environmental stresses, dietary and managemental factors
  • Mortality up to 50% insome outbreaks
  • Expressed lesion vary between animals - meningitis is most consistent, arthritis in 20% of cases
• Haemophilus sommus in Enzootic pneumonia of calves
• H. pleuropneumonia in Contagious porcine pleuropneumonia

Haemophilus characteristica

• Morphologically variable Gram-negative bacilli, ranging from short rods to long filaments
• Oxidase negative
• Depend on beta-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and/or Haemin for growth
• Heated blood agar (Chocolate Agar) required for growth of NAD-dependent strains
• Haemin-dependent strains grow on Blood Agar
• Do not grow on MacConkey agar
• Inhabit mucosal epithelium of respiratory and genital tract

Haemophilus parasuis

• Serotype B causes Glasser's disease in pigs
• Glasser's disease
  • Causes a polyserositis - pericarditis, peritonitis, pleurisy and meningitis - in pigs 3-10 weeks old
  • Sporadic outbreaks in the UK
  • Can be fatal in 2-5 days
  • Chronic arthritis, meningitis and intestinal obstruction due to adhesions in surviving pigs
• Fibrinous pneumonia secondary to enzootic pneumonia or virus infection

Haemophilus somnus

• Causes infectious thromboencephalitis in cattle 1-3 years old
• Found in the USA and Europe, including UK
• Causes a meningoencephalitis with fibrinous arterial thrombosis and necrosis
• Causes fever, staggering and dyspnoea, progressing to somnolence, paralysis and death
• Mortality can be high

Haemophilus paragalinarum

• Conjunctivitis in poultry

Haemophilus influenzae

• Human respiratory disease