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Pasteurella Multocida

Summary

Pasteurella derives its name from the French scientist Louis Pasteur (Pasteur→Pasteurella) and belongs to the Pasteurellaceae family. [1]

Pasteurella derives its name from the French scientist Louis Pasteur (Pasteur→Pasteurella) and belongs to the Pasteurellaceae family. [1]

Staining and microbiologic features:  

  • It is a facultative anaerobic/ aerobic coccobacillus that is gram-negative and non-motile [2]    
  • It is indole positive and exhibits a bipolar appearance on staining [2,3] 
  • Pasteurella Multocida tests positive for catalase and oxidase. [2]
  • Blood and chocolate agars can be used to culture Pasteurella multocida. [3]
  • It exhibits poor growth on MacConkey agar. [3]
  • Production of polysaccharide capsules gives a buttery appearance to Pasteurella colonies. [3]
  • Pasteurella colonies may have a musty odor due to indole. [3]
  • While Francisella, Brucella, and Yersinia are facultative intracellular pathogens, Pasteurella does not share this trait. [4]

Virulence:    

The hyaluronic acid-containing polysaccharide capsule is important for its virulence.[3]

Transmission:   

Because it commonly resides in the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts of both domestic and wild animals, transmission to humans is possible through various forms of animal contact, such as bites, scratches, and shared food. [2,5]

Diseases:  

  • Following an incubation period of less than one day, the patient can develop signs and symptoms of wound infection, cellulitis, or lymphadenitis. [5,6]
  • Chronic respiratory infection is also possible in some patients. [2]
  • Systemic Pasteurella infection is possible in patients with weakened immune systems. [5]
  • It can also result in necrotizing fasciitis and osteomyelitis. [7]
  • Closing wounds from dog or cat bites using sutures is not recommended, as the closed wound will promote Pasteurella growth, and infection may subsequently spread to adjacent joints and bones. [8]

Diagnostic Testing:   

  • Culture of the specimen obtained from the wound site will isolate Pasteurella [4]

References:    

  1. Medical Microbiology by Patrick R. Murray Ph.D., Ken Rosenthal Ph.D., Michael A. Pfaller MD, 8th edition (page no: 244) 
  2. Jawetz, Melnick, & Adelberg’s Medical Microbiology Twenty-Seventh Edition (page no: 278)
  3. Medical Microbiology by Patrick R. Murray Ph.D., Ken Rosenthal Ph.D., Michael A. Pfaller MD, 8th edition (page no: 250) 
  4. CMMRS edition 6, 2016-17 (page no: 109)
  5. Medical Microbiology by Patrick R. Murray Ph.D., Ken Rosenthal Ph.D., Michael A. Pfaller MD, 8th edition (page no: 249) 
  6. Review of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Seventeenth Edition 17th Edition by Warren Levinson, Peter Chin-Hong, Elizabeth A. Joyce, Jesse Nussbaum, and Brian Schwartz (page no: 172)
  7. Sketchy Micro
  8. CMMRS edition 6, 2016-17 (page no: 107)
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