Serotyping of Mannheimia haemolytica isolates from bovine pneumonia: 1987–2006

Over a period of 20 years, a total of 207 Mannheimia haemolytica samples were isolated from calves affected with pneumonic pasteurellosis and serotyped by the indirect haemagglutination test. Serotypes A1 (102 isolates), A2 (47 isolates) and A6 (42 isolates) were most common; in addition, 16 isolates were serotypes A7, A13, A14 or untypable. The relative prevalence of serotype A6 has increased recently in Japan, as has been reported from other countries. The results of this study provide useful information towards the design of efficient vaccines for the prevention of M. haemolytica infection in Japan.