Journal of Tianjin Agricultural University ›› 2023, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (5): 23-29.doi: 10.19640/j.cnki.jtau.2023.05.005

• Researches and Scientific Notes • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Isolation, identification, and pathogenicity analysis of Escherichia coli in chicken

Chen Jiale1, He Jinling1, Du Rongqi1, Li Danruo1, Jin Tianming2,Corresponding Author, Zhang Dongchao1,Corresponding Author   

  1. 1. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Breeding and Healthy Husbandry, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin 300392, China;
    2. Tianjin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Tianjin 300192, China
  • Received:2022-08-26 Online:2023-10-31 Published:2023-12-22

Abstract: :A group of sick chicken suspected to be infected by Escherichia coliE. coli)were found in a large-scale chicken farm in Tianjin. In order to isolate the pathogenic bacteria of the chicken disease and analyze its pathogenicity, a comprehensive analysis was conducted including clinical diagnosis, collection of tissue samples, bacterial isolation and culture, identification of culture medium and biochemical methods, 16S rRNA detection, analysis of phylogenetic tree and homology, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, virulence gene detection, mice pathogenicity test and histopathological observation. The results showed that typical peritonitis, perihepatitis and pericarditis and other symptoms were found in clinical autopsy. The isolate was negative short bacillus by Gram staining and was consistent with the growth characteristics of E. coli via the culture medium and biochemical identification. PCR amplification with 16S rRNA specific primers, phylogenetic tree and homology analysis showed that the isolate was related to E. coli in the same branch, and the homology was more than 99.99%. The isolate was susceptible to florfenicol and moderately susceptible to tetracycline and doxycycline. E. coli virulence genes including fimC, hlyF, ompT, and iroN were amplified by PCR. Animal pathogenicity test showed that all mice inoculated with the isolate died within 16 h, and the bacteria were detected in the liver and blood of the infected mice. Histopathological observation showed that the liver, heart, lung, kidney, spleen and intestine of infected mice were damaged to varying degrees. The results showed that the isolate was E. coli, and the isolate had multiple antibiotic resistance and carried a variety of virulence genes, which had strong pathogenicity to animals. The results of this study provide reference for the prevention and control of E. coli and reasonal use of antibiotics in chicken farms.

Key words: chicken, Escherichia coli, isolation and identification, antimicrobial resistance, pathogenicity analysis

CLC Number: