Fatal Peritonitis Caused by Pasteurella multocida Capsular Type F in Calves

Abstract

A fatal case of atypical septicemia of pasteurellosis in veal calves is described. The causative organism was identified as a multiresistant Pasteurella multocida capsular type F isolate. The outbreak was characterized by fibrinous peritonitis and mortality, which are hitherto unreported features of P. multocida capsular type F infections. CASE REPORTSMale Holstein-Friesian calves (age, 2 weeks) were housed in individual wooden straw-bedded boxes. They were fed a milk replacer diet twice a day. The diet was supplemented with 1.5 g of oxytetracycline (Oxytem; Ecuphar) (80%) and 0.5 g of colistin (polymyxin E; Promycine Pulvis; VMD) (4,800 IU/mg) for the first 5 days. At the time of investigation (16 December 2003), 180 calves 5 to 6 weeks old were present in the herd. The calves had not received any vaccination since the day of arrival at the farm. Three calves had died on the night of 15 December 2003, one of which was subjected to necropsy on the farm and showed extended peritonitis. The remaining two calves were submitted within 8 h to the Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Poultry Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, for necropsy. About 15 calves in the boxes next to those of the dead calves showed nasal discharge and mild diarrhea. Every calf (weight, ca. 50 kg) of the entire herd was then orally treated (methaphylaxis) with 0.8 g of amoxicillin (Dokamox; Emdoka) (80%) twice a day for five consecutive days. The symptoms disappeared within 2 days without relapses or deaths. Routine laboratory investigation consisted of a direct identification test for antigens of rotavirus, coronavirus, Escherichia coli F5, and Cryptosporidium parvum (Digestive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit; Bio-X Diagnostics) in the feces of one calf and detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus antigens by means of real-time PCR (Adiavet-BVD Realtime; Adiagène) in pooled blood samples from eight calves of the same herd. All these laboratory tests were negative.During necropsy of the two calves, samples from the cerebrum, cerebellum, brain stem, lung, mesenteric lymph nodes, synovial fluid of several joints, and omentum major were taken and processed by standard techniques for histological examination. Gross lesions were similar in both calves and consisted of an exudative fibrinous peritonitis (Fig. 1). The synovial fluid of the metacarpal, metatarsal, and elbow joint were hyperemic. The mesenteric lymph nodes were enlarged and mildly hemorrhagic. At histology, the propria of the omentum was edematous and infiltrated by moderate numbers of neutrophils. The mesothelium was covered with fibrin. The synovial fluid samples were hyperemic and edematous. A mild interstitial pneumonia was present in one calf. Lesions were not found in any of the other samples.Samples of lung tissue, peritoneal fluid, and the elbow joint were bacteriologically examined by routine standard techniques for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as Mycoplasma spp. (16). In both calves, mucoid nonhemolytic gramnegative bacteria were ...

Characterisation and comparison of avian Pasteurella multocida strains by conventional and ERIC-PCR assays

“…However, we detected a lower incidence of this type than in a recent study form Hungary (Kardos and Kiss, 2005). Catry et al (2005) reported this type to be more frequently detected in various mammalian species. Other capsular types were not found among our strains.…”

An ST11 clone of Pasteurella multocida, widely spread among farmed rabbits in the Iberian Peninsula, demonstrates respiratory niche association

“…Jaglic et al (2004) previously described the presence of P. multocida capsular type F isolates in rabbits. Capsular type F isolates had been traditionally associated with fowl cholera in birds, but in the past few years they have been occasionally reported in other hosts, including cattle, sheep, and pigs, in different parts of the world (Ewers et al, 2006;Bethe et al, 2009;Davies et al, 2003;Catry et al, 2005). Most of the rabbit capsular type F isolates (19/25) were positive only for the pfhA gene with a statistically significant association (P < 0.05).…”

Rationele antimicrobiële therapie voor sepsis bij runderen in het licht van de nieuwe wetgeving over kritisch belangrijke antibiotica

“…Sepsis is regarded as a sporadic disease, but massive epidemics of sepsis can occur with virulent bacteria like Salmonella spp. (especially host adapted species like Salmonella Dublin), Histophilus somni, Mannhaemia haemolytica or Pasteurella multocida, especially in young animals (Catry et al, 2005;Mahu et al, 2015;McFadden et al, 2011). In the immunocompromised host, sepsis is more likely to occur.…”