Plasmid profiles of klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from horses

Abstract

Plasmid profiles of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from horses were examined. Thirty-nine strains of K. pneumoniae capsular type 1 (K1) isolated from cervical swabs of mares suffering from metritis, and from semen of stallions showed similar plasmid profile patterns, and all strains possessed a 125 megadaltons (Md) plasmid. There was no difference in plasmid profiles between the heavily-encapsulated and the less heavily-encapsulated strains of K. pneumoniae K1. Non-capsulated variants derived from the strains of K1 showed the same plasmid profile pattern as the parent strains. Plasmid profiles of K. pneumoniae other than K1 were various, and none of these strains possessed the 125 Md plasmid. © 1995, JAPANESE SOCIETY OF VETERINARY SCIENCE. All rights reserved.