Preliminary Study of Pasteurella multocida: Isolation, Characterization, and Antibiotic Susceptibility in Egypt

Pasteurella multocida is a Gram-negative, non-motile, capsulated bacterium of the Pasteurellaceae family, commonly found in the respiratory tracts of healthy animals but capable of becoming pathogenic under stress. This bacterium is a primary cause of pasteurellosis, a significant respiratory disease affecting many hosts, particularly poultry. It has led to substantial economic losses in regions like Egypt. In poultry, P. multocida infections cause respiratory distress, reduced egg production, and growth rates, with serogroup A strains identified as the primary agents of fowl cholera (FC), an acute septicemic disease marked by high morbidity and mortality. The rapid spread of FC in poultry necessitates strict biosecurity to prevent transmission to other susceptible species. Traditional identification methods for P. multocida rely on morphological, and biochemical. Eight P. multocida isolates were identified from 50 samples with a prevalence of 16%. All isolates were MDR. Besides, all isolates were resistant to erythromycin, tylosin, penicillin, and oxytetracycline, followed by trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole (50%). while recovered isolates were sensitive to chloramphenicol; the P. multocida control is effectively based on good management practices and antibiotic treatments. However, the overuse of antibiotics in veterinary settings has contributed to the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. multocida strains, complicating treatment efforts. This study concluded that MDR P. multocida is significant in public health issues.