FATTY ACID ANALYSIS FOR DIFFERENTIATION OF BORDETELLA AND BRUCELLA SPECIES

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Abstract
The fatty acid composition of Bordetella pertussis (13 strains), B. parapertussis (3 strains), B. bronchiseptica (6 strains), Brucella abortus (6 strains), B. melitensis (4 strains) and B. suis (5 strains) was determined. Both genera contained straight-chain saturated and mono-unsaturated acids and cyclopropane substituted isomers, but the overall differences between the 2 genera were distinct. The Brucella spp. contained exclusively C16 to C19 acids. Minor amounts of hydroxylated acids (tentatively identified as 3-hydroxy-hexadecanoate and 3-hydroxy-octadecanoate) could only be detected after TLC and substantial concentration. The Bordetella spp. contained a number of both non-hydroxylated and hydroxylated fatty acids of chain-lengths varying from C10 to C19. Intra-generically, no clear distinction between the Brucella spp. could be detected. The 3 species of Bordetella were clearly distinguished by their fatty acid patterns. B. pertussis did not contain cyclopropane fatty acids encountered in significant amounts in the 2 other species, and B. bronchiseptica was characterized by containing 2-hydroxy-dodecanoate in significant amounts.