Prevalence and biochemical properties of V factor-dependent Pasteurellaceae from rodents.

Organs of 1436 rats and 2839 mice were monitored for V-factor dependent Pasteurellaceae. Such bacteria were isolated from 21.2% of rats and from 2.4% of mice, respectively. They were most frequently cultured from the deep respiratory tract (lungs and trachea). In addition, they were found in the nasal cavity and on mucous membranes of the genital and the intestinal tract. 35 phenotypical criteria were determined for 429 isolates. Based on these data, groups of bacteria showing similar biochemical properties were formed using exploratory statistical methods (principal qualitative analysis). The majority of 333 isolates is represented in a rather homogenous group which has some characteristics in common with the Haemophilus parainfluenzae complex. The remaining isolates consist of several groups. It was shown by others that some of these bacteria are closely related to the yet unnamed Taxon B which forms a genus-like cluster together with Pasteurella pneumotropica type Jawetz.