RESISTANCE AND VIRULENCE GENES OFE.COLI IN BROILER CHICKENS

Abstract

Avian colibacillosis is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli, and is seen in poultry flocks worldwide. The disease is commonly associated with respiratory symptoms in birds, which in severe cases lead to septicemia and death. Avian colibacillosis primarily affects broiler chickens between the ages of 4 and 6 weeks and is responsible for a significant proportion of mortality. Colibacillosis is one of the main causes of economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. Signs of colibacillosis include respiratory distress, reduced appetite and poor growth. Lesions seen at post mortem are airsacculitis, pericarditis, perihepatitis and peritonitis. Prevalence of colibacillosis among the examined broiler chicks was investigated in 7 governorates in Egypt (Giza, Kalyobyia, Monofyia, Dakahlyia, Sharkyia, Kafr El-Shiekh and Behyra). Six hundred samples collected from 120 broilers (76 diseased living and 44 freshly died) including liver, heart, bone marrow, spleen and kidney were examined bacteriologically. The results revealed that the incidence of E. coli isolation found to be 18.33 , among the examined broilers was 14.17% and in the diseased living and 4.16% in the freshly died broiler chicks. The results also showed that Giza Sharkyia and Behyra governorates recorded the highest percentages of E.coli isolation (3.33%) for each followed by , Monofyia, klyobyia (2.5%) for each. While Kafr El-Sheikh and Dakahlyia recorded the lowest percentages (1.67%) for each.