Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Pasteurella Multocida Isolated from Dead Poultry in Jos, Plateau State

Abstract

Pasteurella multocida causes fowl cholera in domestic poultry and pasteurellosis in other avian species. This study was carried out due to paucity of information on the isolation and characterization of the organism from poultry in Nigeria. In the present study, 512 poultry were cultured at necropsy for the organism from the liver, spleen, lungs and heart blood, out of which only 6 (1.2%) were positive for P. multocida. When the 6 isolates were tested for susceptibility to 15 antimicrobial agents by the standardized single disk method and minimal inhibitory concentrations, all isolates showed multi-drug resistance, but were all found to be susceptible to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, cefotaxime, ampicillin-clavulanic acid and imipenem. Furthermore, the isolates were confirmed by species-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to belong to capsular serogroup B by multiplex PCR. They were also found to harbor plasmids of various sizes. The study established that P. multocida may be involved in poultry morbidity and mortality in Jos, Plateau state. The detection of multi-drug resistance among the strains calls for more prudent use of antimicrobial agents and for control through vaccination.

Key words: Pasteurella multocida, fowl cholera, biochemical characterization, Microbact 24E, antimicrobial susceptibility, minimal inhibitory concentrations, PCR, multiplex PCR, plasmids.