The aim of the present investigation was to characterize a strain collection of Pasteurellaceae isolated from marine mammals (pinnipeds) living in confinement to extend our knowledge on the diversity and possible host adaptation of these taxa.

More than 50 bacterial isolates of from the oral cavity of marine mammals (pinnipeds) tentatively classified with the family Pasteurellaceae were investigated and compared with results obtained from reference strains. Two proposed novel species, and likely genera were identified, and work to characterize these are ongoing. No Pasteurellaceae-like organisms were isolated from the oral cavity of three species of whales.