Virulence differences among three strains of Haemophilus somnus following intratracheal inoculation of calves.

Pneumonia was induced in four month old Holstein calves by intratracheal inoculation of 1 x 10(9) colony forming units of Haemophilus somnus. Twenty calves were divided into four groups of five and challenged with a pneumonic strain (Group 1), an encephalitic strain (Group 2), a preputial strain (Group 3), or a placebo (Group 4). The clinical score, neutrophil count, respiratory rate, and temperature were significantly increased in group 1 by day 1 postinoculation (P less than 0.05) and maintained until day 6 postinoculation (P less than 0.05). The macroscopic pathological changes were significantly greater in group 1 (P less than 0.05). Haemophilus somnus was consistently isolated from pneumonic tissue of group 1 only. Groups 2 and 3 had mild transient increases in all parameters measured and macroscopically only small focal lesions were present. It is concluded that virulence differences exist between H. somnus strains following intratracheal challenge of bovine lungs.