Serologic types and physiologic characteristics of 46 avian Pasteurella anatipestifer cultures.

Forty-six strains of Pasteurella anatipestifer isolated from different avian species were examined to determine their serologic types and physiologic characteristics. Serologic types were determined by a gel-diffusion precipitin test. Antigens from 39 field isolates reacted with antisera prepared from seven P. anatipestifer reference strains representing serotypes 1, 2, 4, 6, and 7. Antigens from five isolates did not react and could not be typed with available reagents. Gel precipitin reactions involving serotype 1 (43.6%) and serotype 2 (25.6%) were the most prevalent. Generally, the physiologic characteristics from 40 tests were typical for P. anatipestifer, and variations were observed among the strains in urease production, hemolysin production, litmus milk reaction, and gelatin liquefaction.