Identification and typing of Pasteurella multocida: a review

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Avian Pathology
• Molecular Diagnostics

Background:

• Pasteurella multocida is a significant bacterial pathogen affecting various avian species, causing considerable economic losses in poultry farming.
• Accurate identification and typing of P. multocida are crucial for effective disease control and epidemiological investigations in avian populations.
• Existing diagnostic methods require critical evaluation against newer, more advanced techniques for improved accuracy and efficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically review recent advancements in diagnostic tests for the identification and molecular typing of avian Pasteurella multocida.
• To evaluate the performance and suitability of novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based assays for P. multocida detection.
• To assess the utility of various molecular typing techniques for epidemiological studies of avian P. multocida isolates.

Main Methods:

• Review of published literature on polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays for P. multocida identification.
• Analysis of five distinct molecular typing technologies: restriction endonuclease analysis (REA), ribotyping, pulsed field gel electrophoresis, repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (REP-PCR), and multi-locus enzyme electrophoresis (MLEE).
• Critical examination of the methodologies and performance data for each typing technique in the context of avian P. multocida.

Main Results:

• Two PCR tests show potential for routine P. multocida diagnostics, with one (Townsend et al.) being more evaluated and recommended for laboratory adoption.
• Current PCR validation is limited to pure cultures or enrichment broths, not direct biological samples, necessitating further validation studies.
• REA and REP-PCR are identified as suitable typing methods for smaller laboratories investigating fowl cholera outbreaks, while MLEE is recommended for large-scale reference studies.

Conclusions:

• Newer PCR diagnostic tests offer promising improvements for avian P. multocida detection, but require comprehensive evaluation against diverse isolates and sample types.
• The choice of molecular typing method for avian P. multocida should be tailored to the laboratory's scale and specific epidemiological objectives.
• Continued research and validation are essential to optimize the use of advanced molecular techniques for avian P. multocida surveillance and control.