Molecular Survey and Identification of spp. in Layer Farms in Central Ethiopia.

Few data are available on spp. presence in chickens in Ethiopia. Due to its importance for both the poultry sector and public health, a sampling activity was planned to evaluate spp. presence in layer farms in Bishoftu and Mojo, Central Ethiopia. Twenty cloacal pooled samples were collected and tested with molecular assays for detection and Sanger-sequenced for species identification. As a secondary aim, samples were also tested for spp. by PCR, and all samples were negative. On the other hand, 70% of cloacal swab pools were positive for spp.: 71.4% of the positive samples belonged to species, 21.4% to and 7.1% to . spp. was identified in almost all farms regardless of farm and flock size, age and hybrid types of the birds and antimicrobial treatment. is a common finding in chickens, whereas species such as and were newly reported in Ethiopia, revealing a variability that needs to be monitored in light of the public health significance of this pathogen.