Phylogenetic typing and molecular detection of virulence factors of avian pathogenic isolated from colibacillosis cases in Japanese quail.

Colibacillosis caused by avian pathogenic (APEC) is an economic threat to the poultry industry throughout the world. Some of the virulence genes may enhance the ability of isolates to grow in the tissues of broilers. The APEC strains are assigned to a few distinct phylogenetic groups. The purpose of the present study was to detect the virulence genes and phylogenetic groups of isolates from colibacillosis cases in Japanese quail in 2014 in Kerman, Iran. In the present study, one hundred and two isolates were obtained from dead Japanese quails with colibacillosis. isolates were confirmed by standard biochemical and bacteriological methods. DNA of isolates was extracted by boiling method. The confirmed isolates were investigated to detect the phylogenetic groups and virulence genes including , , by PCR methods. isolates were classified into A (62 isolates), B1 (24 isolates), B2 (12 isolates) and D (four isolates) phylogenetic groups. Among examined isolates nine isolates (8.82%) were positive for , five isolates (4.90%) for and two isolates (1.96%) for genes. Based on our findings, isolates from colibacillosis of Japanese quail could be assigned to various phylogenetic groups (mostly A and D), and they may contain the adhesion genes in a low prevalence.