Species identification and serotyping (capsular antigen) of Pasteurella strains from sheep flocks in south Germany and in Syria.
135 Pasteurella strains were cultivated from nasal swabs of sheep as well as pneumonic lungs of dead and slaughtered sheep. The specimen originated from 41 flocks in South Germany and from 15 flocks and 60 slaughter sheep in Syria (Hama region). Serovariety A2 prevailed amongst P. haemolytica strains (6) isolated in South Germany (53 strains) and in Syria (41 strains). In addition 10 further serovarieties were identified in South Germany (next frequent were A8, A1 and A6) and 7 in Syria. Untypable strains appeared to be more frequent in Syria. Other Pasteurellae (17) represented 1/4 of isolates in Syria and 1/3 of isolates in South Germany. Species identification resulted in P. multocida ssp. multocida (25), P. multocida ssp. septica (4 strains, Syria only), P. canis (3 strains, South Germany only) and Pasteurella-like strains (9 strains). Twelve P. multocida ssp. multocida strains carried capsular antigen D and 7 capsular antigen A. In most cases where multiple samples were examined from one flock, strains with different capsular antigens and/or belonging to different Pasteurella species were isolated (max. 8).
Variation in carrier rates of Pasteurella haemolytica in sheep flocks. I. Normal flocks.
Abstract A twelve-months survey of sheep flocks in the Edinburgh area for nasal carriage of Pasteurella haemolytica revealed a bimodal curve of carrier rates among all flocks and for each flock. The first peak occurred in late autumn, the second in late spring to early summer. The graphs showing carrier rates, while roughly parallel, followed different levels for the several flocks. A simple relation to weather changes could not be detected. Type prevalence varied widely from month to month and from flock to flock. Some flocks showed type spectra distinct from others. Although the flocks remained healthy, the times of high carrier rates shown by them coincided rather closely with the known seasonal pattern of enzootic pneumonia in the region.
Studies on the carriage of Pasteurella haemolytica in lambs.
Abstract A range of serotypes of P. haemolytica were found in young lambs reared with their ewes, the number of serotypes carried by individual animals increasing with age. The first typable colonies of this organism were detected in these lambs 48 hours after birth. Serotype 2 was the most common isolate. It appeared that lambs were more susceptible to implantation by strains of P. haemolytica than were adult sheep. Very few typable strains were recovered from lambs removed from the ewe at birth, and intimate and prolonged contact with adult sheep may facilitate the transfer of strains from the dam. No antibodies to P. haemolytica were found in lambs three and four weeks old.