The distribution of Pasteurella haemolytica serotypes among cattle, sheep and goats in South Africa and their association with disease

Abstract

Over an 8-year period (September 1986 to March 1994), a total of 497 organ specimens from sheep and goats and 96 from cattle, were received for the isolation of Pasteurella haemolytica. They were collected in seven geographical areas in South Africa (as it existed before the April 1994 elections). These areas include the eastern Cape, Transvaal (new name: Gauteng), Namibia, Orange Free State (new name: Free State), Natal (new name: KwaZulu-Natal), western Cape and the northern Cape. This investigation does not represent the statistical incidence of the organism from each region, only the distribution of serotypes isolated from organ specimens submitted from diseased animals in these regions. Pasteurella haemolytica serotype 6 was the most prevalent type isolated from sheep and goats, but was followed closely by types 9 and 2. From cattle, P. haemolytica serotype 1 comprised 39% of the isolates. In sheep and goats, the majority of serotypes were associated with pneumonia, followed by gangrenous mastitis ("blue udder") and septicaemia. The situation in cattle was similar regarding the incidence of pneumonia followed by septicaemia. Up to 33% of the isolates from cattle and sheep specimens were non-typeable.