Capsular Groups of Pasteurella multocida Isolated from Avian Hosts

Abstract

Avian strains of Pasteurella multocida representing a variety of host types, geographic locations, and somatic serotypes were examined to provide information on the distribution of capsular serogroups. Of the 246 strains studied, 166 were capsular group A, 4 were group B, 4 were group D, and 14 were group F; 58 strains were non-encapsulated and consequently not serogroupable. This is the first report of serogroup B P. multocida from avian hosts in the United States. The 188 serogroupable strains represented 12 variations in somatic serotypes and were isolated from 11 types of avian hosts representing 25 states of the United States, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Canada.

Population structure and diversity of avian isolates of Pasteurella multocida from Australia

“…Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of fowl cholera, a common and widely distributed disease of poultry that is of major economic importance (Rimler & Glisson, 1997). There is considerable evidence that avian isolates of P. multocida are diverse.…”

“…serological diversity with most of the 16 Heddleston somatic serovars having been isolated from birds (Rhoades & Rimler, 1987). The molecular-based techniques of restriction endonuclease analysis and ribotyping have been used extensively to demonstrate considerable diversity in avian isolates of P. multocida (Kim & Nagaraja, 1990;Carpenter et al, 1991;Christiansen et al, 1992a, b;Wilson et al, 1993Wilson et al, , 1995Blackall et al, 1995).…”

Avian pasteurellosis: Taxonomy of the organisms involved and aspects of pathogenesis

“…Fowl cholera may result from infection with strains of P. multocida of several somatic serotypes (Rhoades & Rimler, 1990b) and capsular serovars (Rhoades & Rimler, 1987b). Subspecies multocida is by far the most common cause of disease, but subspecies septica and gallidda may also cause cholera-like disease .…”

“…multocida serovar A strains are regarded as the primary cause of fowl cholera, the most severe form of the disease (Rhoades & Rimler, 1987b;Rimler & Rhoades, 1989). Organisms belonging to serovars B, D and F have also been isolated from diseased birds, but with low incidence compared with serovar A (Rhoades & Rimler, 1987b;Rhoades et al, 1992). While the virulence properties of serovar A strains are well documented, the information concerning the virulence of capsular serovars B, D and F is limited.…”

“…Several of the 16 somatic serovars have been demonstrated among serovar A isolates just as somatic serotype variation has been shown to occur within serovars B, D and F (Rhoades & Rimler, 1987b). Although the somatic serovars 1,3 and 3,4 within serovar A apparently dominate among American and English strains isolated from fowl cholera (Curtis, 1981;Rhoades & Rimler, 1990b), there are no indications that any particular serovar is more or less virulent than others.…”