Campylobacter Jejuni Infection and Virulence Genes in Broilers - Abstract
This study was aimed to assess the presence of Campylobacter jejuni infection and some of its virulence genes in broiler chickens in New Valley and Assiut provinces, Egypt. The study was conducted on 200 broiler chicken samples which obtained from 12 broiler flocks representing 60000 birds. One hundred intestinal (caecal) samples and one hundred liver samples from birds (dead and live broilers suffering from diarrhea) during spring and summer seasons of 2016 were used for bacteriological
and molecular examinations. The isolated and identified strains were examined for the presence of virulence factors (VirB11, flaA and Iam genes). Results showed that out of 200 intestinal and liver samples, C. jejuni was isolated in 51 (25.5%). The highest microbial load was in intestinal samples (26%) followed by liver samples (25%). In addition, the virulence genes of C. jejuni were identified in broiler chicken samples as ViroB11 (10%), flaA gene (5%) and iam gene (40%). In conclusion, this study revealed that C. jejuni may represent a threat to poultry production.