Abstract
Enterococcus cecorum (EC) is known as a commensal in the intestines of mammals and birds. However, it has been described as an emerging pathogen in poultry industry worldwide. The aim of this study was to analyze and compare EC isolated from clinical material collected from poultry groups with different production purposes. The genetic diversity among pathogenic EC in relation to each specific poultry type was examined. In total, 148 isolates from independent infection outbreaks (2011–2016) were used: 76 broiler chickens (CB), 37 broiler breeders (BB), 23 layers (CL), 7 waterfowl (W) and 5 turkey (T) flocks (1 isolate/1 flock). We provided age ranges at diagnosis of EC-infection for 5 poultry groups. Isolates obtained from CB were significantly more frequently retrieved from bone marrow, joints, spine, and contrary to BB, CL less frequently retrieved from respiratory system. The study showed differences between EC of various poultry types in relation to 10/32 (31.3%) biochemical parameters. EC isolates from CB were significantly more often positive for βGAL, βNAG, MLZ, and less often positive for PAL and βMAN than isolates from other poultry types. However, BB and W isolates showed higher ability to metabolise mannitol than CB, CL, and T. CB isolates showed lower ability to survive at 60°C. Only chicken EC-isolates harbored virulence genes: CB (8.1%) > BB (3.4%) > CL (2%). No specific pulsotype of EC was associated with a specific poultry. One or several various (up to 6) genetic types of EC may be involved in outbreaks in CB flocks within one year in one region. Outbreaks reported in following years in the same region were usually caused by a distinct set of EC-genetic types. PFGE results indicated at the genetic heterogeneity among pathogenic isolates involved in outbreaks in relation to each poultry type. To our best knowledge, this is the first study which provides a comparison between clinical EC from 5 poultry groups. The study provides a new insight into EC as pathogen of different bird species. The obtained data may be useful in further studies on EC-infections more focused on a specific type of poultry.
Highlights
Enterococcus cecorum (EC) belongs to a group of Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, catalase- and oxidase-negative cocci
In the view of the above, here we have focused on specific poultry types and performed comparative analysis of pathogenic E. cecorum from five different poultry groups
Pathogenic Enterococcus cecorum from different poultry types bacterial collection deposited at the Division of Avian Diseases, or were obtained from clinical specimens submitted for routine diagnostic work to the Division of Avian Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the Warsaw University of Life Sciences-SGGW (Poland)
Summary
Enterococcus cecorum (EC) belongs to a group of Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, catalase- and oxidase-negative cocci. Contrary to other enterococci this species is not assigned to the serological group D. The first isolation was described in 1983 from the caeca of healthy chickens [1]. Enterococcus spp. were the most often isolated bacteria from18-20-day embryos and newly hatched chickens [7]. Some studies have shown age-dependent intestinal colonization by EC in chickens [8, 9]. The earliest appearance of EC in the crop, small intestine and caeca was observed at the age of 3–4 weeks. EC was the most frequently occurring commensal enterococcus in layers and parent flock of over 12 weeks of age [2]
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