Genomic analysis of Pasteurella multocida associated with outbreaks of fowl cholera on free range layer farms

Fowl cholera caused by Pasteurella multocida has re-emerged in Australian poultry production since increasing adoption of free range production systems. Currently, killed whole cell vaccines prepared from the isolates previously obtained from each farm are the main preventative measures used. In this study, we use whole genome sequencing (WGS) and phylogenomic analysis to investigate outbreak dynamics as well as monitoring and comparing the variations in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) outer core biosynthesis loci of the outbreak and vaccine strains.