Isolation and molecular detection of some virulence associated genes in avian pathogenic E. coli

Abstract

There are 13 virulence-related genes in E. coli isolates. The10 genes of these isolates were selected from avian pathogenic E. coli in some Iraqi broiler farms. Six of these virulence-related genes (iroN, iucC, frz operon, iucD, papC, and R4) were investigated in these isolates by PCR. Eighty percent of the isolates had one or more virulence-associated genes. Two APEC separates carried just one gene, iroN or iucC. According to preliminary evidence, the iroN and iucC genes may express their pathogenicity independently. All of the strains had the same iroN gene, making them all pathogenic. The results of these isolates were confirmed by PCR to have the six pathogenic genes: 80% positive for iucC, 50% positive for iucD, 100% positive for iroN, 10% positive for frz operon, 10% positive for papC, and 0% positive for R4 respectively. These six virulence genes were detected with different percentages in isolates; the iroN gene was found in all isolates but the other virulence genes were found with different percentages in E. coli isolates. According to, detection the iroN and such genes are displaying their pathogenicity separately from each other.