Virulence And Infectivity Of A:14 Strains Of Pasteurella Multocida For Turkey Poults

Abstract

Strains of Pasteurella multocida, capsular serogroup A and somatic serotype 14, (A:14) isolated from turkeys which had succumbed to fowl cholera were examined for virulence and infectivity. Groups of 2-week-old poults were injected intramuscularly with one of three strains. Slight to moderate virulence, based on mortality, was noted. Poults that survived exposure were frequently affected with exudative airsacculitis. Intramuscular, intra-air sac and intranasal exposure of 6-week-old poults with the most virulent strain, as determined in the first experiment, caused the death of one of five intramuscularly-exposed poults. No other clinical evidence was observed. At post mortem examination, marked exudative airsacculitis occurred in all intra-air sac exposed poults, both in inoculated and other air sacs. Pneumonia was also observed in these poults but only affected lungs adjacent to inoculated air sacs. Some poults became carriers of P. multocida. © 1989, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.