Screening and identification of Pasteurella multocida capsular types among animal cases in Malaysia

P. multocida was commonly characterized according to the established five capsular types designated as A, B, D, E and F. In this study, P. multocida strains isolated from 121 animal cases and confirmed by phenotyping analysis were used in genotype distribution study in Malaysia. Multiplex PCR assay effectively characterized individual capsular type for all P. multocida isolates by production of two distinct products; KMT1 amplimer as species specific identification and the individual specific capsular type of each isolates. Multiplex PCR identified four common P. multocida capsular types in Malaysia which are capsular type A in 38 (31.4%) cases, type B in 23 (19.0%) cases, type D in 59 (48.8%) cases and only 1 (0.8%) case belonged to type F. Based on the genotypic distribution among animal cases, most avian (12/18) and rabbit (4/5) cases were caused by capsular type A, cattle (7/16) and buffalo (3/5) cases were capsular type B and 48/66 of caprine cases were capsular type D. In conclusion, P. multocida isolated from animal cases in Malaysia is dominated by capsular type D followed by types A, B and F respectively.