Taxonomy
Family: Pasteurellaceae
3 subspecies
- P. multocida subsp. multocida
- P. multocida subsp. septica
- P. multocida subsp. gallicida

History
Is named after Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), chemist and bacteriologist in Paris

Natural habitats
They are part of the normal flora of the respiratory tract of animals.
Through contact with these animals (licking, biting and scratching), humans can be infected, often by cats and dogs.

Clinical significance
Through contact with animals or bites especially cats or dogs the bacterium is transmitted to humans.
Arise within 48 hours painful infections erythema and swelling, the presence of pus is rare.
Infection can also occur through inhalation of the micro-organism.

Respiratory infections and urogenital infections also occur.
Complications can arise due to sepsis, meningitis, septic arthritis, peritonitis, and osteomyelitis.

Virulence
Due to the polysaccharide capsule is the Pasteurella resistant to phagocytosis.
Although some strains produce a cytotoxin its role in the pathogenesis of the disease is not clear.

Of all the P. species is P. multocida the most virulent.

There are five serogroups (A, B, D, E and F) based on the capsular antigen