Vet. Res. 35 (2004) 661-669
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2004044

The comparative pathogenicity of strains of eight serovars and untypable strains of Mannheimia haemolytica in experimental pneumonia of sheep

Moses O. Odugbo^a, Lillian E. Odama^b, Jarlath U. Umoh^c and Lami H. Lombin<sup>a

a</sup>  National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria
^b  National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Abuja, Nigeria
^c  Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria

(Received 20 November 2003; accepted 17 May 2004)

Abstract - The experimental induction of pneumonic pasteurellosis in groups of conventionally reared lambs by 8 serovars (A1, A2, A6, A7, A8, A9, T10, and A11) and untypable (UT) strains of Mannheimia haemolytica (Mh) were examined and compared. The groups of lambs were inoculated intratracheally with 1.4 × 10⁸ ± 0.6 × 10⁸ (mean ± SD) colony-forming units of the Mh serovars or UT isolates in the 6-hour log phase of growth. The variables measured as indicators of disease severity were clinical score, percentage lung consolidation and microbiological re-isolation. The clinical parameters for each group were computed daily for 6 days post infection and the lambs which died were necropsied while the remaining lambs were killed on day 7 pi and the extent of lung consolidation was measured. Clinically, the mean scores for the M. haemolytica serovars were A1 (6.1), A2 (18.8), A6 (0.5), A7 (17.4) and A9 (8.5). The mean percent lung lesion scores for M. haemolytica serovars were A1 (12.5), A2 (66.3), A6 (5.0), A7 (51.3), A9 (33.8) and A11 (2.5). The percent mean pneumonic lung lesions recorded for groups inoculated with A2, A7 and A9 were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than the extent of lung lesions in the other groups. A statistically significant correlation was observed between clinical scores and the severity of the lung lesions (r = 0.96, P < 0.01). High titres of M. haemolytica were recovered from lung lesions, with 10 to100 times the number of organisms inoculated being present in the lung lesions of lambs inoculated with serovars A2 and A7. These data indicate that although M. haemolytica serovars A1, A2, A6, A7, A9 and A11 are important primary lung pathogens of lambs, serovars A2, A7, and A9 are to be regarded as highly virulent strains that have a greater predilection than the other serovars for causing pneumonia in lambs.

Key words: sheep / pneumonia / Mannheimia haemolytica / comparative / pathogenicity

Corresponding author: Moses O. Odugbo odugm@yahoo.com

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2004