Pasteurella species

Paul Auwaerter, M.D.

MICROBIOLOGY

  • Aerobic to facultatively anaerobic, non-motile small Gram-negative bacillus or may appear as coccobacillus [Fig 1].
    • Grows best on 5% sheep blood agar at 37°C.
    • Usually catalase- and oxidase-positive.
  • Pasteurella multocida is the most common species causing human infection.
    • Other species include P. multocida subspecies septica, P. multocida subsp gallicida, P. canis., P. dagmatis, P. pneumotropica, P. aerogenes and P. stomatis.
    • Typing of usually done by serology examining capsular antigens (A-F) although molecular methods are also capable.
  • A common inhabitant of feline > canine oral flora. A frequent cause of illness in rabbits.
  • Often part of polymicrobial aerobic and anaerobic flora of domestic pet bite wound infections.
  • Pasteurella is usually susceptible to penicillins, tetracyclines or chloramphenicol.

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Last updated: February 4, 2023