Molecular epidemiologic investigation of Polish avian Pasteurella multocida strains isolated from fowl cholera outbreaks showing restricted geographical and host-specific distribution.

Molecular epidemiologic analyses of the 42 clinical isolates of Pasteurella multocida from various avian hosts (geese, ducks, turkeys, and laying hens) in Poland from 2001 to 2011, including a single reference strain, were performed by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR, single primer PCR, and repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP)-PCR. Forty-two isolates were identified as P. multocida (serotype A). The majority of P. multocida strains were obtained from waterfowl clustered within one genotype, and they were not consistent with the genotypes obtained from the turkey strains. Pasteurella multocida showed genetic homogeneity between the host species, especially when isolated on the same farm. Some of the clones also were characteristic to the particular farm. The strains obtained in different regions represent distinct molecular patterns. The present findings demonstrate that some clones of P. multocida are restricted in geographical and host distribution. In addition, this study suggests that ERIC-PCR, single primer PCR, and REP-PCR are suitable techniques for studying the host adaptation of P. multocida and the epidemiology of fowl cholera.