Characterization of Pasteurella multocida isolates from rabbits in China

Pasteurella multocida is the causative agent of a wide range of diseases (pasteurellosis) and is a zoonotic pathogen in humans. The molecular epidemiology of P. multocida from rabbits in some southern European countries has been characterized, and the associations of some populations with the respiratory niche or virulence factors have been suggested. However, the population structure of P. multocida from rabbits in China has not been well characterized. In this study, 30 P. multocida isolates from rabbits without epidemiological relations in China were clustered using mutilocus sequence typing (MLST). Then, the genotypes of virulence factors (capsule, lipopolysaccharides, HgbB, and PfhA) of these isolates were determined via multiplex PCR methods. Next, the virulence of the isolates in a mice model was established by determining the 50 % lethal dose. Finally, the associations between MLST types and the prevalence of genotypes, virulent strains, or clinical origins were characterized. The P. multocida isolates identified in this work included 3 major clonal complexes: CC9, CC74, and ST129. CC9 exhibited cpsA(F)L3, and was associated with a higher prevalence of rhinitis; CC74 exhibited cpsAL6, and was associated with higher prevalences of hgbB+pfhA- and pneumonia; ST129 exhibited cpsAL1, and was associated with higher prevalences of high-virulence strains and septicemia. The results provided insights into P. multocida from rabbits in China and suggested the use of strains from different populations in future P. multocida pathogenesis and vaccine studies.