Pasteurellosis To Mannheimiosis: Taxanomic Changes

Abstract

Pasteurellosis is a disease of ruminants that have been recognized for long but there has been extensive reclassification of the aetiologic agent. Pasteurella haemolytica is the agent of pasteurellosis. Recent advances have renamed the organism to Mannheimia haemolytica conversely changing the disease name to Mannheimiosis. The bacterium has 17 serovars presently but serovars 3, 4, 10 and 15 retained the name Pasteurella which is predominantly associated with septicaemia while the rest are now known as Mannheimia. In Nigeria, serotypes A1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and T10 has been reported. Therefore, pasteurellosis may well be called mannheimiosis.

Keywords: Pasteurellosis, Mannheimiosis, Pasteurella haemolytica, Mannheimia haemolytica

Nigerian Veterinary Journal Vol. 28 (1) 2007 pp. 75-79