title: Molecular characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of Pasteurella multocida strains isolated from hosts affected by various diseases in Italy.
abstract: Pasteurella multocida is a widespread pathogen associated with major animal diseases of economic significance. Despite this, little is known about the capsular types, virulence gene pattern, and antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates from hosts affected by different diseases, and no data are available in Italy. One hundred eighty six isolates of P. multocida, were taken from different species in different states of health in several Italian regions, and were tested for genes encoding for capsular types (cap) and major virulence factors (tbpA, toxA, hgbB and pfhA). Antimicrobial susceptibility was investigated with the agar diffusion test. The majority of isolates was capA+. However, the distribution differed according to species and disease of origin, with a greater heterogeneity in isolates from rabbits; capE was never found, while capB was detected once. Only capA+ and capF+ strains tested positive for pfhA. Conversely, almost all capD+ isolates were hgbB+. In bovine respiratory disease, pfhA+/tbpA+/capA+ isolates predominated, while tbpA+/toxA+/capD+ isolates predominated in sheep. Overall, low levels of resistance were found, with full susceptibility to ceftiofur and florfenicol. Lower susceptibility to older antimicrobials was recorded, since only approximately 1/3 of the isolates showed susceptibility to tylosin and erythromycin, and resistance to tetracycline (7.5%), and trimethoprim - sulphametoxazole (4.8%) was also observed.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zoopro lattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, via Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucilla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cucco
authors.forename: Francesca Romana
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Massacci
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sebastiani
authors.forename: Piermario
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mangili
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bano
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cocchi
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ortenzi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pezzotti
authors.forename: Chiara Francesca
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Magistrali
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D002417:Cattle; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D007558:Italy; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D010326:Pasteurella Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D016979:Pasteurella multocida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents