Distribution of virulence associated genes in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from Tamil Nadu

Abstract

The present study describes the distribution of 4 virulence associated genes in 25 avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates recovered from poultry affected with colibacillosis. Serotypes (12) were encountered when these isolates were serotyped and 0 ,0 ,0 ,0 ,0 and 0 were the predominent serotypes. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was done to dected the presence of virulence associated genes like iss,fimC, iucD and tsh. One or other target genes was present in 22 of the 25 isolates while the remaining 3 isolates did not have any. Among the 22 positive isolates, only 4 had all the 4 genes. The frequency of iss, fimC, fmC, iucD and tsh was 88,56,20 and 16%, respectively. Intra serotypic variation, with isolates ofsame serotypes possessing different virulence genes was also observed among the serotypes 0 ,0 0 and 0 . Multiplex PCR was very useft:I1 in rapidly identitying pathogenic E.coli isolates.