A Pasteurella-like bacterium associated with pneumonia in captive megachiropterans

A novel Pasteurella-like organism was recovered postmortem from lung tissue of two captive Wahlberg's epauleted fruit bats (Epomophorus wahlbergi), with severe, unilateral pneumonia. The bats had been recently shipped and died shortly after release from a 30-day quarantine. One presented with clinical signs of anorexia and lethargy before death; the other died without prior clinical symptoms. The same Pasteurella-like organism was recovered antemortem from subcutaneous abscesses in two captive little golden mantled flying foxes (Pteropus pumilus) housed with additional E. wahlbergi. The organism was also cultured on tracheal wash from one Malaysian flying fox (Pteropus vampyrus) and another E. wahlbergi, both demonstrating clinical signs of pneumonia. All recovered isolates appeared morphologically and biochemically similar to the initial isolates and were further characterized as either a Pasteurella or Actinobacillus organism on the basis of biochemical and cellular fatty acid profiles. Screening of the current collection using pharyngeal swabs isolated this organism from 12 of 15 E. wahlbergi, two of three P. vampyrus, one of 26 island flying foxes (Pteropus hypomelanus), and one of nine Rodrigues fruit bats (Pteropus rodricensis). The organism was not identified in pharyngeal culture from eight Indian flying foxes (Pteropus giganteus), nine Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegypticus), or an additional 16 P. pumilus.