Abstract
BackgroundThe aim of our study was to investigate the possible etiology of avian colibacillosis by examining Escherichia coli isolates from fecal samples of healthy broilers.FindingsSeventy-eight E. coli isolates from fecal samples of healthy broilers in Japan were subjected to analysis of phylogenetic background, virulence-associated gene profiling, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and antimicrobial resistance profiling. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that 35 of the 78 isolates belonged to group A, 28 to group B1, one to group B2, and 14 to group D. Virulence-associated genes iutA, iss, cvaC, tsh, iroN, ompT, and hlyF were found in 23 isolates (29.5%), 16 isolates (20.5%), nine isolates (11.5%), five isolates (6.4%), 19 isolates (24.4%), 23 isolates (29.5%), and 22 isolates (28.2%) respectively. Although the genetic diversity of group D isolates was revealed by MLST, the group D isolates harbored iutA (10 isolates, 71.4%), iss (6 isolates, 42.9%), cvaC (5 isolates, 35.7%), tsh (3 isolates, 21.4%), hlyF (9 isolates, 64.3%), iroN (7 isolates, 50.0%), and ompT (9 isolates, 64.3%).ConclusionsOur results indicated that E. coli isolates inhabiting the intestines of healthy broilers pose a potential risk of causing avian colibacillosis.
Highlights
The aim of our study was to investigate the possible etiology of avian colibacillosis by examining Escherichia coli isolates from fecal samples of healthy broilers
The pathogenesis and the role of virulence genes in avian colibacillosis have been obscure. Prevalence of these genes was analyzed as the virulence-associated genes in E. coli isolates from healthy broilers in this study, to compare with that of Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) in Japan. Molecular analyses, such as multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) of E. coli [9,10], may provide additional epidemiological information on E. coli isolates from healthy broilers when used in combination with phylogenetic grouping or virulence profiling
We have revealed previously that the resistance rates to ampicillin and enrofloxacin of APEC strains were higher than those of E. coli isolated from healthy broilers, suggesting that the antimicrobial resistance profile of APEC was different from that of E. coli isolated from healthy broilers
Summary
Our results indicated that E. coli isolates inhabiting the intestines of healthy broilers pose a potential risk of causing avian colibacillosis. The pathogenesis and the role of virulence genes in avian colibacillosis have been obscure Prevalence of these genes was analyzed as the virulence-associated genes in E. coli isolates from healthy broilers in this study, to compare with that of APEC in Japan. Molecular analyses, such as multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) of E. coli [9,10], may provide additional epidemiological information on E. coli isolates from healthy broilers when used in combination with phylogenetic grouping or virulence profiling. The aim of our study was to investigate possible associations of E. coli isolates from fecal samples of healthy broilers with APEC in Japan using phylogenetic grouping, virulence-associated gene profiling, MLST, and antimicrobial resistance profiling
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