Random ampli®cation of polymorphic DNA and phenotypic typing of Zimbabwean isolates of Pasteurella multocida F. Dziva a,* , H. Christensen b , J.E. Olsen b , K. Mohan a a Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe b Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Bulowsvej 13, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark Received 6 June 2000; received in revised form 31 May 2001; accepted 31 May 2001 Abstract Eighty-one isolates presumptively identi®ed as Pasteurella multocida from a variety of diseases inanimalsinZimbabweweresubjectedtobiochemicalcharacterization,capsulartypingandRAPD analysis. The majority of isolates over 80%) were assigned into named taxa and were predominantly P. multocida subsp. multocida and P. multocida subsp. septica, whilst the remainder were unassigned. Serogroup Awas predominant among the three capsular types A, B and D) of P. multocida detected. Three main RAPD clusters and three subclusters were observed among the majority of isolates 93.8%), whilst the remainder was found to be weakly related. Nine different groups of strains with similar RAPD pro®les 100% similarity) were also observed. The reference strain of capsular serogroup F clustered with the reference strain of P. multocida subsp. septica, whilst all other serogroups clustered with reference strains of subsp. multocida and gallicida. Notably, serogroups A and D were observed to be closely related to the reference strain of subsp. multocida. The relationship between biotype, capsular type, host origin and disease manifestation was not clear-cut. However, most pig isolates of subsp. multocida clustered together as did most cattle isolates of subsp. multocida. RAPD tended to separate subsp. multocida from septica. # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Biotype; Pasteurella multocida; RAPD; Capsular type 1. Introduction Pasteurella multocida infects a wide range of animals, where it causes a variety of disease manifestations. There is evidence that considerable diversity exists in this Veterinary Microbiology 82 2001) 361±372 * Corresponding author. Tel.: 263-4-303211; fax: 263-4-333407. E-mail addresses: fdziva@compcentre.uz.ac.zw, dziva@excite.com F. Dziva). 0378-1135/01/$ ± see front matter # 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved. PII:S0378-113501)00406-0