GENOTYPIC AND BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PASTEURELLA MULTOCIDA ISOLATED FROM SHEEP AT SLAUGHTER IN AMMAN-JORDAN

Pasteurella multocida (p.m.) is a gram negative coccobacilli bacterial pathogen, classified into three subspecies, five capsular serogroups, which is the causative agent of a range of diseases in domestic animals of economic significant worldwide. The aims of this study are isolation of P. multocida from sheep and identification by biochemical tests and polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) technique. Seventy samples were isolated from sheep lung lesions and were cultured for P. multocida using conventional method and isolated colonies were subjected to biochemical tests and for identification by PCR. The results in the present study showed that the biochemical tests provided an approximate 99.9% (an excellent identification for P. multocida). The PCR analysis applied on direct bacterial colonies using specific primer gave an amplified product (219 bp) specific for P. multocida, this result confirmed the results of biochemical tests and provided obvious results for the identification of this bacteria using the specific primer PMout for omp gene of P. multocida. The PCR assay was found to provide rapid and accurate diagnosis of P. multocida isolates obtained from sheep respiratory infections during the investigation of suspected hemorrhagic septicemia outbreaks. PCR technique is recommended to be used for identification procedure to be applicable in all veterinarian laboratories for bacterial identification; likewise the production of veterinary vaccines productions companies. In addition RAPD technique is reliable means of discriminating between P. multocida isolates obtained from sheep. Key words: Biochemical tests, Pasteurella multocida, PCR analysis, Genotyping.