Abstract
We examined 50 Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains isolated from broiler chickens between January 2013 to March 2014 in order to evaluate the epidemiological prevalence of avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) in Jordan by multiplex PCR and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) tests. The multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) which was used as tentative criteria of APEC targets 8 virulence associated genes; enteroaggregative toxin (astA), Type 1 fimbria adhesion (fimH), iron-repressible protein (irp2), P fimbriae (papC), aerobactin (iucD), temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (tsh), vacuolating autotransporter toxin (vat), and colicin V plasmid operon (cva/cvi) genes. The number of detected genes could be used as a reliable index of their virulence. E. coli strains already typed as an APEC always harbor 5 to 8 genes, but non-APEC strains harbor less than 4 genes. Assuming the criteria of an APEC is possession of 5 or more virulence associated genes; we found that all 50 E. coli strains were classified as APEC strains. The RAPD analysis showed that the E. coli strains could be grouped into 35 of RAPD types by using these two different RAPD primer sets, RAPD analysis primer 4 5'AAGAGCCCGT5', and RAPD analysis primer 6 5'CCCGTCAGCA3'. The current study confirmed the endemic nature of APEC in broiler flocks in Jordan. It is essential that the biosecurity on poultry farms should be improved to prevent the introduction and dissemination of APEC and other agents. Furthermore, farmers need to be educated about the signs, lesions, and the importance of this agent.
Highlights
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most common and important avian bacterial pathogens and infections caused by E. coli are responsible for significant economic losses to the poultry industry
Taking these circumstances into consideration, we carried out epidemiological study of Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) in broiler chicken farms using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) tests
Multiplex PCR was reported in a previous study [7] [10] [11] and it was proved that virulent strains which are already typed as an APEC had 5 to 8 virulence-associated genes but avirulent strains which are already typed as non-APEC strains had at most 4 virulence associated genes [7]
Summary
Escherichia coli (E. coli) is one of the most common and important avian bacterial pathogens and infections caused by E. coli are responsible for significant economic losses to the poultry industry. Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strains fall under the category of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli, which are characterized by the possession of virulence factors that enable them to live extraintestinal life [3]-[5]. These virulent factors have been identified [3] [5]-[7]. In Jordan, there is no available information of epidemiology of APEC Taking these circumstances into consideration, we carried out epidemiological study of APEC in broiler chicken farms using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) tests. The RAPD technique provides a rapid, low cost, simple and powerful tool to study avian E. coli infections [12] [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
