Pasteurella multocida in the oral cavity of dogs and cats

Swabs were taken from the palate, the glossogingival and gnathogingival spaces in 120 samples (60 cats and 60 dogs) using a dry, sterile swab. The swab samples were directly inoculated onto Columbia agar supplemented with 5 per cent defibrinated sheep's blood. After incubation for 24 to 48 hours at 37°C in a CO₂-enriched atmosphere, the colonies identified by direct examination were isolated. Biochemical identification was carried out using miniaturised strip tests. From the total of 120 oral samples, 9 strains of Pasteurella multocida were isolated.