Multifactorial analysis of antibiotic sensitivity of Bordetella bronchiseptica isolates from guineapigs, rabbits and rats.

The possible relationship between antibiotic sensitivity of B. bronchiseptica isolates and host species was examined. Growth inhibition of 11 B. bronchiseptica isolates from guineapigs, 7 from rabbits and 3 from rats by a variety of antibiotics incorporated in paper disks, was tested. To seek possible relationships among the various antibiotic sensitivities, we submitted our datamatrix to principal component analysis and subsequently to cluster analysis. This approach showed the existence of close clustering as well as highly specific antibiotic sensitivities. In order to test the presumed relationship between antibiotic sensitivity profiles of the B. bronchiseptica isolates and host species of origin, the same datamatrix was submitted to discriminant analysis. Antibiotic sensitivity profiles of the isolates were not clearly related to host species.