Capsular groups of Pasteurella multocida isolated from avian hosts.

Avian strains of Pasteurella multocida representing a variety of host types, geographic locations, and somatic serotypes were examined to provide information on the distribution of capsular serogroups. Of the 246 strains studied, 166 were capsular group A, 4 were group B, 4 were group D, and 14 were group F; 58 strains were non-encapsulated and consequently not serogroupable. This is the first report of serogroup B P. multocida from avian hosts in the United States. The 188 serogroupable strains represented 12 variations in somatic serotypes and were isolated from 11 types of avian hosts representing 25 states of the United States, Bangladesh, Singapore, and Canada.