Table 2.7. Diseases caused by pasteurella organisms in agricultural and domestic animals

Bovine pasteurellosis is known by a number of synonyms that are descriptive of the condition and are relevant in specific circumstances. The terms shipping fever, transit fever, bovine enzootic pneumonia, and bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex are all very meaningful terms used to describe the disease. It is believed that in the United States, the losses to the beef and dairy industries from this disease complex are greater than the losses due to all other diseases put together. In the BRD complex, more than one species and serotype of pasteurellae are incriminated as playing a role that is secondary to respiratory viruses and 'stress' . This is unlike HS, which is a primary pasteurellosis caused by specific serotypes of the species P. multocida. The pasteurellae associated with BRD are predominantly P. haemolytica type A, and P. multocida capsular serogroup A. There is no consistency in the somatic types involved .