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Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences

Veterinary bacteriology: information about important bacteria
Veterinary bacteriology


Species/Subspecies: Pasteurella multocida subsp. multocida
Categories: Zoonotic; notifiable diseases and bacteria
Etymology: Genus name: named after Louis Pasteur.
Species epithet: a lot of killing.
Subspecies epithet: see Species epithet.
Significance:  [Very important]   
Taxonomy:
Phylum
Pseudomonadota
Class
Gammaproteobacteria
Order
Pasteurellales
Family
Pasteurellaceae 
Genus
Pasteurella
Type Strain: ATCC 43137 = CCUG 17976 B och 43504 = NCTC 10322.
Macromorphology (smell):
Pasteurella multocida  Pasteurella multocida  
Small mucoid or dry colonies (1-2 mm in diameter). No hemolysis on blood agar, but some strains give a greenish decolorization.
Micromorphology: Small non-motile short rods or coccoid rods (0.3-1.0 x 1.0-2.0 µm), which appear singly, in pairs or as short chains (rarely).
Gram +/Gram -:
Pasteurella multocida  
G-
Metabolism: Facultatively anaerobic
Catalase/Oxidase:+/(+)
Other Enzymes: Ornithine decarboxylase +, tryptophanase + (= indole +), urease -.
Biochemical Tests: Citrate -, hydrogen sulphid (H2S) -, methyl red -, Voges-Proskauer -.
Fermentation of carbohydrates:
D-glucose
+
lactose
-
maltose
-
L-rhamnose
-
sucrose
+
L-arabinose
-
cellobiose
-
D-mannitol
+
salicin
-
trehalose
+
glycerol
v
inulin
-
raffinose
-
D-sorbitol
+
starch
?
Other carbohydrates: D-Mannose +.
Gas production: Glucose -.
Spec. Char.:
Special Media:
Disease:
HostsPathotypeDiseaseClinical picture
PigsDAtrophic rhinitis, mostly together with Bordetella bronchisepticaSneezing, deformed snout, notifiable in Sweden
PigsAPneumoniaFever, cough, dyspnea. Often secondary infection
CattleB and EShipping feverAcute septicemia, fatal, high fever, profuse salivation, depression, dyspnea, submucosal petechiation and subcutaneous edema
CattleAEnzootic pneumonia (calves), mastitis (uncommon)Fever, cough, dyspnea. Often secondary infection
SheepAPleuropneumonia, mastitisFever, cough, dyspnea. Often secondary infection
RabbitsASnuffles, pleuropneumonia, abscesses, otitis media, conjunctivitis, genital infectionsOculonasal discharge, snuffling, dyspnea, cyanosis, torticollis, vaginal discharge, subcutaneous swelling and sudden death
PoultryAFowl choleraLocal infections, eye inflammation, skin inflammation, lameness, movement disorder due to inflammation in the middle ear.

The severe acute form that causes high mortality is called fowl cholera and is highly contagious

CatWound infectionWounds and abscesses, usually after bites or scratches
HumansWound infections after cat biteWounds and abscesses, usually after bites or scratches
Virulence Factors: Dermonecrotic toxines of P. multocida subsp. multocida of capsular type A and D, which causes atrophic rhinitis in pig.
Genome Sequence:
Acc-noStrainSize (bp)Genome
NC_002663 PM70 2 257 487 1c + 0 

16S rRNA Seq.:
Acc-noStrainNumber of NTOperon
AY078999 NCTC 10322T 1 468 

Taxonomy/phylogeny:
Pasteurella multocida  
About 15 species have been described within genus Pasteurella, but the relationship between members within the closely related genera Actinobacillus, Haemophilus, Mannheimia and Pasteurella is very uncertain since none of these genera forms monophyletic clusters.
Comment:Atrophic rhinitis is notifiable in Sweden. Pasteurella infections may be zoonotic and associated with cat bites. Fermentation of D-sorbitol and trehalose can be used for identification of subspecies.
Updated:2023-08-14

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