RESUMO
In the present study biochemical tests and outer membrane protein profile (OMP) capacity for typing Bordetella bronchiseptica field isolates were evaluated. The biochemical tests were performed by API 20NE system. OMP enriched fractions were obtained from cultures under virulent and modulated conditions and were analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). We have identified five patterns by differences in the bands in the 85-95 kDa region (alpha, beta, gamma, delta and epsilon) from virulent cultures; and three different patterns by the flagellin expressed isotype from modulated cultures (A: 40 kDa, B: 45 kDa, and C: 40 and 45 kD simultaneously). Isotypes alpha, beta and gamma were linked to isotpye A, isotype delta to B and C, and isotypes epsilon to B. There is no evident correlation between characterized isotypes and the origin of the isolate. Nitrate reduction was the unique variable biochemical characteristic, only observed in rabbit isolates. It was possible to differentiate seven groups with the traits included in the study. The capacity of discrimination of the traits analyzed using the Hunter and Gaston index was 0.829.