ABSTRACT
The genus Pasteurella Trevisan 1887 is one of the 14 genera included in the family Pasteurellaceae, Pohl 1981, which also contains the prominent genera Actinobacillus and Haemophilus. Members of the genus Pasteurella sensu stricto are gram-negative, nonmotile, nonspore-forming rods, coccobacilli, or Šlaments with aerobic, microaerophilic, or facultatively anaerobic respiration and chemoorganotrophic metabolism, sharing these properties with other members of the Pasteurellaceae family. The genus Pasteurella sensu stricto is separated from other Pasteurellaceae by an array of biochemical tests, including a negative urease test, positive indole and porphyrin reactions, a positive alpha-glucosidase (PNPG) test, and acid formation from d-fructose, d-galactose, d-mannose, and sucrose.25,44 Species of the genus Pasteurella are predominantly obligate parasites or commensals that colonize mucosal surfaces of vertebrate hosts. The majority cause economically important infections in livestock, companion, and wild animals. Human infections, though infrequent, are invariably associated with direct or indirect contact with such animals; hence, pasteurellosis is a recognized zoonosis. This chapter brie³y updates taxonomic aspects of the genus Pasteurella, highlights signiŠcant infections in humans and describes molecular detection techniques for this group of pathogens in order to inform about control strategies.
