Molecular characterisation of Escherichia coli from dead broiler chickens with signs of colibacillosis and ready-to-market chicken meat in the West Bank

• Published in: British poultry science 2014-07, Vol.55 (4), p.442-451
• Main Authors: Qabajah, M, Awwad, E, Ashhab, Y
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; beta-lactamase; broiler chickens; chicken carcasses; chicken meat; Chickens; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - genetics; Escherichia coli - metabolism; Escherichia coli - pathogenicity; Escherichia coli Infections - epidemiology; Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology; Escherichia coli Infections - veterinary; farms; genes; humans; Meat - microbiology; Middle East - epidemiology; Molecular Sequence Data; Phylogeny; polymerase chain reaction; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Poultry Diseases - epidemiology; Poultry Diseases - microbiology; Prevalence; public health; risk; screening; Sequence Analysis, DNA - veterinary; slaughterhouses; Virulence; Virulence Factors - genetics; Virulence Factors - metabolism
• ISSN: 1466-1799; 0007-1668; 1466-1799
• DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2014.935998

1. The aim of this work was to compare a group of virulence-associated characteristics of Escherichia coli isolates from broiler chickens that had died with signs of colibacillosis against E. coli isolates from ready-to-market chicken meat in the West Bank. 2. The isolates were investigated to determine the virulence factor (VF) profile, phylogenetic group and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL). A total of 66 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) strains from different affected broiler farms and 21 E. coli isolates from ready-to-market chicken carcasses (hereinafter called meat strains) from 8 slaughter houses were analysed. 3. The overall content of VFs was significantly higher (P < 0.05) among APEC strains, with over 75% of APEC strains having ≥4 VFs, while over 75% of the meat strains had