Pasteurella Infection in Elephants:

• Elephant pasteurellosis
• Haemorrhagic septicaemia in elephants

• Pasteurella (Bacteria Genera)
  • Pasteurella multocida

• Pasteurellosis is a blanket term for a number of infections, both localised and systemic, caused by Pasteurella sp. and Mannheimia sp. bacteria. (B209.20.w20); particularly Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia (Pasteurella) hemolytica. (B209.20.w20)
• In general these bacteria are considered opportunistic pathogens of mammals (wild and domestic); however, some species/strains of Pasteurella and Mannheimia may act as primary pathogens in wild mammals. (B209.20.w20)
• Clinical manifestations of this infection include haemorrhagic septicaemia, pneumonia, meningitis, mastitis and arthritis. (B58.20.w20)

In Elephants:

Elephas maximus - Asian Elephant:

• Occurs rarely in Elephas maximus - Asian Elephant. (B10.49.w21, B64.27.w4, P501.1.w2)
• A case of haemorrhagic septicaemia due to Pasteurella multocida infection was diagnosed post mortem in a ten-year-old male Elephas maximus - Asian Elephant. (J350.13.w1)
  • Pasteurella multocida was isolated in this case. (J350.13.w1)
  • An outbreak of the disease was recorded in cattle and buffalos near to where the elephant carcass was found. There was no significant difference between the strain of Pasteurella multocida isolated from the elephant and the strain obtained from bovines. (J350.13.w1)

Loxodonta africana - African Elephant:

• The disease has been reported in Loxodonta africana - African Elephant. (B453.7.w7)

Clinical signs:

• Systemic signs. (B10.49.w21)
• Dyspnoea. (B16.18.w18)
• Gastrointestinal symptoms. (B16.18.w18)
• Death within 12 hours of diagnosis. (B10.49.w21) 

Gross pathology:

• Information is available from a single case report in an Elephas maximus - Asian Elephant. No detailed post mortem examination was performed since anthrax was suspected. (J350.13.w1)
  • The throat and trunk (proboscis) were swollen. (J350.13.w1)
  • The mouth exuded haemorrhagic fluid. (J350.13.w1)

Histopathology:

• Blood smears stained with Gram's stain revealed multiple gram-negative rods. (J350.13.w1)

Diagnosis:

• Culture of the blood and identification of the microorganism. (J350.13.w1)
• Differential diagnosis: Anthrax (with special reference to Waterfowl and Elephants)

Treatment:

• Treatment often fails due to the acute course of the disease. (B10.49.w21)
• Data from a recent pharmacokinetic study on Elephas maximus - Asian Elephant indicate that enrofloxacin given orally at 2.5 mg/kg once daily would reach potentially therapeutic concentrations and could be useful in the treatment of Pasteurella spp. infection in elephants. (J13.66.w1)

Preventive measures:

• Vaccination is available for elephants. (B10.49.w21)

• History & Documentation
• Physical Examination of Mammals
• Environmental Assessment
• Necropsy of Mammals (Technique)
• Chapter 2 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen Collection and Preservation
• Chapter 3 - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Specimen shipment
• Appendix A - B36 Field Manual of Wildlife Diseases - Sample specimen history form
• Medicating Elephants

• Elephants (Elephantidae - Elephants (Family))
• Elephas maximus - Asian Elephant
• Loxodonta africana - African Elephant

(List does not contain all other species groups affected by this infectious agent)