Experimental transmission of Pasteurella multocida from raccoons to turkeys via bite wounds

• Published in: Avian diseases Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 559 - 564
• Main Authors: Gregg, D. A., Olson, L. D., McCune, E. L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association of Avian Pathologists, Inc 01-10-1974
• Subjects: Animals; Bites and Stings - pathology; Bites and Stings - veterinary; Chickens; Cholera; Culture Media; Disease transmission; Disease vectors; Experimental infection; Housing, Animal; Infections; Palatine Tonsil - microbiology; Pasteurella - growth & development; Pasteurella - isolation & purification; Pasteurella Infections - microbiology; Pasteurella Infections - transmission; Pasteurella Infections - veterinary; Pasteurella multocida; Poultry Diseases - microbiology; Poultry Diseases - pathology; Poultry Diseases - transmission; Predators; Raccoons; Time Factors; Turkeys; Veterinary medical education; Water
• ISSN: 0005-2086; 1938-4351
• DOI: 10.2307/1589013

Fowl cholera was transmitted via bite wounds in the head and neck to susceptible turkeys from 7 of 8 raccoons infected experimentally with Pasteurella multocida. Used in the study were 2 isolates of P. multocida recovered from the tonsillar fossa of wild reaccoons, 3 isolants from turkeys, and one from chickens. Of 53 turkeys bitten, 21 died 3 to 10 days later. In one experiment, the disease was transmitted from a bitten turkey to 2 contact turkeys in the same pen. P. multocida was isolated from the tonsillar fossa of 2 raccoons 15 months postexposure and from 2 raccoons 1 year postexposure. The findings support the hypothesis that the wild raccoon is a principal reservoir for fowl cholera in turkeys, and that the disease is transmitted via bites.