FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS ON PASTEURELLA-MULTOCIDA INFECTIONS IN FERAL BIRDS INJURED BY CATS

A total of 64 Pasteurella multocida strains (46 out of 11 different fe ral bird species, partly injured by cat bites, and 18 strains originat ing from clinically healthy cats) were biochemically differentiated. A s a result, 67.4 % of the strains from feral birds and 61.1 % from the cats were classified as the subspecies multocida, whilst 21.7 % and 2 7.8 % were identified as the subspecies septica. The percentage of fre quency for both the subspecies was of a comparable order of magnitude from the birds injured by cat bites and from cats (58.6 % and 61.1 %, 24.1 % and 27.8 % resp.), whereas the frequency from other feral birds differed considerably (82.4 % and 17.6 %). Maltose-positive strains w ere only demonstrable in birds with wounds inflicted by cats. To date, maltose-positive strains have only been obtained from one cat and one human being with an injury caused by a cat. The results of this inves tigation confirm the possibility of the direct transmission of Pasteur ella multocida via cat bites. 19 strains from feral birds and 15 strai ns from cats were tested for their capability to produce toxins. The r esults of these tests were negative. The present paper also describes the pathologic-anatomical and histopathological lesions caused by the infection in feral birds.