Identification of Ribonuclease Z Gene from an Outbreak of Riemerella anatipestifer Infection in Ducks of Bangladesh

Abstract

Duck septicemia is a deadly disease of duck causing huge economic losses in duck rearing areas. Despite its importance, no study was devoted to unravel the Riemerella (Pasteurella) anatepestifer in Bangladesh. Therefore, a systemic investigation was carried out to identify the isolate targeting ribonuclease Z gene from an outbreak in 2013-2014. Samples were collected from sixty randomly selected dead ducks from three outbreaks areas of North East Bangladesh (Netrokona district). Histopathological, cultural and sugar fermentation test of all samples revealed the infectivity with R. anatipestifer. Polymerase chain reaction specific to R. anatipestifer identified the 421 bp fragment of ribonuclease Z gene in thirty seven cases. Identified gene of the isolate was sequenced (Accession No. KU992381) and phylogenetic lineage was analyzed for the first time in Bangladesh. The phylogenetic analysis showed that Bangladeshi isolate R. anatipestifer BD 2014 resembles highest similarity with the R. anatipesrifer isolated from ducks of china. This study provide evidence that duck septicemia could be the main culprit of mortality in growing ducks in the duck rearing areas. Further investigation is needed to identify secondary or co-infection state as well as the prevalence of this infection including the economic burdens in duck industry in Bangladesh.