Comparison of the protein composition of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains of subtype 1A isolated from ducks and pigs.

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains isolated from duck carcasses and pigs were examined by sodium dodecyl sulphate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and the results were evaluated by a computerised method in order to compare the strains for protein composition according to molecular mass. To characterise the similarity of the strains, Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated. The degree of similarity between duck strains originating from the same flock was 980-991, while that of strains isolated from ducks and pigs varied between 836 and 991 on a scale of 0 to 1000. The method gives highly reproducible results and can be utilised in epidemiological investigations. Its use may provide new data on E. rhusiopathiae strains, complementing the results of methods recommended for this purpose earlier and increasing the efficiency of epidemiological investigations.