Characterization of Pasteurella multocida isolates recovered from the oral flora of cats

Abstract

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the presence of Pasteurella multocida in the swab samples taken from the oral cavity of cats, and to determine the capsular type and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates. For this purpose, swab samples taken from 300 cats were inoculated onto Knight's selective enriched medium and blood agar for isolation of P. multocida. Following after capsular typing of the isolates by PCR, the susceptibilities of the isolates to ceftiofur, clindamycin, erythromycin, enrofloxacin, amoxicillin+clavulanic acid, trimethoprim/ sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, and chloramphenicol were examined by the disk diffusion method. The relationships between oral colonization and various physiological and behavioral variables were evaluated, statistically. P. multocida was isolated from 48 (16%) of the samples and all strains were identified as capsular type A. While all of the isolates were resistant to clindamycin and sensitive to enrofloxacin, 8,33% tetracycline resistance was also remarkable. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MDR) was detected in 27% of the isolates. The colonization of P. multocida was found to be statistically significant in cats under the age of 1 and in cats living outdoors. The importance of antibiotic resistance observed in bacteria with a zoonotic character such as P. multocida should not be ignored since it poses a threat to public health. It was concluded that, in this study determination of tetracycline resistance, which has started to be reported in feline Pasterurella multocida isolates in recent years, and detection of multiple antibiotic resistance in 27% of isolates, was extremely important for public health.