Recovery and identification of Pasteurella multocida from mammals and fleas collected during plague investigations.

During the 12-yr period, 1973-1984, 243 isolates of Pasteurella multocida were recovered or identified from specimens submitted for plague tests. Of the isolates, 79% were from rodents, 10% from lagomorphs, and 7% from carnivores; eight isolates were recovered from pools of rodent or carnivore fleas, and two were recovered from cat-bite wounds of human patients. No correlations of host or geographic sources, season, or biotypic or serotypic characteristics were found. Of the rodent strains serotyped, most were found to be serotypes 1A or 3A, which suggests a possible epizootiologic role for rodents in outbreaks of avian cholera that commonly involve these serotypes.