Induction of nasal turbinate atrophy in germ-free pigs, using Pasteurella multocida as well as bacterium-free crude and purified dermonecrotic toxin of P multocida.

To establish the role of the dermonecrotic toxin (DNT) of Pasteurella multocida in the cause and pathogenesis of atrophic rhinitis, germ-free pigs were inoculated with several strains of P multocida, crude DNT, or purified DNT. In some experiments, the aforementioned inocula were combined with Bordetella bronchiseptica. All DNT-producing P multocida strains induced severe turbinate atrophy. Histologic examination of the remnants of the nasal turbinates revealed intact, but undulated, ciliated epithelium and numerous osteoclasts. Inflammation was minimal or absent. A DNT-producing B bronchiseptica strain induced only mild turbinate atrophy. The lesions were characterized histologically by loss of cilia and ciliated cells and by an infiltration of predominantly mononuclear cells. Bone formation seemed impaired. Turbinate lesions were most severe in pigs infected with a combination of B bronchiseptica and a DNT-producing P multocida strain. Intranasal administration of sterile DNT-containing culture filtrate of P multocida or purified DNT of P multocida did not result in turbinate atrophy. In contrast, turbinate atrophy developed when these preparations were injected IM or when intranasal administration of DNT was preceded by inoculation of B bronchiseptica.