Peritonitis associated with Pasteurella multocida: molecular evidence of zoonotic etiology

Abstract

A patient on continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis for chronic kidney disease due to type 2 diabetes mellitus developed peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis induced by Pasteurella multocida that was isolated from a sample of dialysis effluent. The route of infection was unknown for this case; however, P. multocida was also isolated from a culture of a pharyngeal swab obtained from the patient's cat. There was no evidence that the cat had bitten and ruptured the peritoneal dialysis tubing or bags. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed that the P. multocida isolated from the patient was completely identical to the strain isolated from the domestic cat. As there is a rise in the pet-keeping population, an increase in zoonoses is to be expected. It is necessary to be carefully informed of hygiene rules in keeping pets because a pet may transmit zoonoses, even on casual contact.