Pasteurella multocida in camels: incidence, capsular and virulence genes characterization

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Bacteriology, Immunology and Mycology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Benha University

2 Animal Health Research Institute, Dokki – Giza

Abstract

Pasteurella multocida is the main cause of hemorrhagic septicemia in camels. This study deals with the isolation and
molecular examination of hemorrhagic septicemia in camels from May 2014 to March 2016 from 30 camel nasal swabs
in Marsa Matruh and 120 camel lungs (70 slaughtered in Basateen abattoir in Giza Governorate and 50 slaughtered in Al-
Shohada abattoir at Al-Menofia Governorate). All collected samples were subjected to clinical, postmortem examination
as well as for bacteriological and molecular examination. Totally P. multocida was isolated from the examined samples
with percentage of 5(3.3%). While the percentage of the isolation rate from 120 camel lungs was 5(4.2%). In contrast, all
30 nasal swabs were negative. In the pathogenicity test, all P.multocida isolates were highly pathogenic. Pasteurella
multocida isolates were identified by PCR and 23 S RNA gene was amplified at 1432bp. Three out of five isolates were
identified as P.multocida type B with amplification at 760bp while other two isolates identified as P.multocida type A
and amplified at 1044bp . Also, PCR showed that toxA gene was amplified in all isolates and giving product of 864bp but
ptfA gene was not detected. As conclusion, P.multocida in camels can be diagnosed with different methods such as
confirmatory biochemical and molecular assays

Keywords