ANTIGENIC CHARACTERISATION OF Pasteurella multocida ISOLATES FROM RABBIT-II

Individually antiserum against three forms of antigens viz., heat inactivated crude extract, KSCN extract and Sonicated antigen from the three strains of P. multocida was raised in rabbits. Serological tests such as AGPT, immunoelectr ophoresis and IHA were carried out to compare the antigenic relationship of the isolates. Each antiserum was tested against three homologous and two heterologous antigens and it produced multiple precipitin lines which were identical with the homologous and heterologous antigens. The Sonicated antigen invariably presented more precipitin lines than the other forms of antigens. The AGPT results indicated close serological relationship between two rabbit strains than the bovine strain p-52. These results were further confirmed on imtnunoelectrophoresis wherein multiple precipitin arcs were developed and were comparable in their number and position.