EXOone Leukotoxin Mannheimia haemolytica

Description

Mannheimia haemolytica is a Gram-negative bacterium and a key component of the bovine respiratory disease complex, often acting as a primary or secondary pathogen following stress or viral infections.
A major virulence factor of this bacterium is the leukotoxin (Lkt), encoded by the lktC gene, which plays a central role in pathogenesis by damaging leukocytes and contributing to lung tissue destruction.
Infections are associated with pneumonia, reduced performance and significant economic losses in cattle production. The presence of leukotoxin-producing strains is closely linked to disease severity.
Conventional detection methods do not allow rapid identification of virulent strains. Real-time PCR enables sensitive and specific detection of the lktC gene directly from clinical samples, supporting targeted analytical detection of pathogenic strains.