Identification and Intra-specific Heterogeneity of Campylobacter hyointestinalis Based on Numerical Analysis of Electrophoretic Protein Profiles

Abstract

Sixty-six strains received as Campylobacter hyointestinalis, along with twelve type or reference strains of other Campylobacter species, were characterized using high-resolution one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The resulting protein patterns were analyzed numerically, by computer, and revealed that when only background patterns were analyzed, 57 of the 66 strains formed a single cluster which included the type strain of C. hyointestinalis, thus confirming their identity. This cluster could be divided into two sub-clusters (a and b) which could also be differentiated phenotypically. When the full patterns were analyzed, 17 electrophoretypes were recognized among the 57 C. hyointestinalis strains. Evidence for the co-existence of strains of different protein types in the digestive tract of a single animal is presented.