Antigenic and restriction enzyme analysis of isolates of Campylobacter fetus subsp venerealis recovered from persistently infected cattle.

Thirty-two isolates of Campylobacter fetus subsp venerealis were obtained from 1 bull and 4 heifers with experimentally induced infection. When whole-cell antigens of isolates were cross titrated with antisera to the infecting strain, isolates from 3 heifers had limited antigenic variation, whereas whole-cell antigens of isolates from 2 cattle (the bull and a heifer) differed serologically from those of the infecting strain. Changes were detected specifically in 6 heat-labile antigens. Of the 6 heat-labile factors evaluated, all were initially present on the infecting parent strain, but not on early isolates obtained from 4 of the 5 cattle. Restriction enzyme analysis revealed minor variation in the DNA fingerprints of isolates obtained from individual cattle, thus implying stability of the Campylobacter genome once persistent infection is established. Isolates with identical restriction enzyme patterns expressed different heat-labile antigens. Correlation could not be found between the DNA electrophoretic pattern and the expression of heat-labile antigens.