DETECTION OF CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS AND THEIR VIRULENCE TOXINS IN BROILER CHICKEN

Abdelrhman Salah Elsharkawy, Dalia Talat, Asmaa Sh. Elnaggar and Madiha Salah Ibrahim*

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of C. Perfringens in broiler chickens in El Behiera, Alexandria and Matrouh governorates. Samples (n= 400) were collected from intestine (n=200; 100 apparently healthy and 100 diseased birds), feed (n=100) and litter (n=100). The prevalence of C. Perfringens was 57, 88, 52 and 60% in apparently healthy birds, diseased birds, feed and litter, respectively. Isolates were confirmed by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI). Antimicrobial sensitivity of isolated C. perfringens showed sensitivity to Cefotaxime, Chloramphenicol, Bacitracin, Norfloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Doxycycline, Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid and Clindamycin. The isolates were resistant to Gentamycin, Erythromycin, Amoxicillin, Ampicillin and Neomycin. Eighteen C. perfringens isolates from different samples were examined by PCR for Alpha, Beta, Epsilon and Iota genes. The alpha gene was detected in 17 of the examined isolates. Only five isolates were positive for the Tpel toxin gene. Further, the Net-B toxin gene was detected in one isolate. Environmental factors (feed & litter) in poultry farms represent an important source of C. perfringens infection (toxigenic types) and apparently healthy birds may act as a major source of infection. Alpha toxin was the predominant major toxin in our investigation and the Tpel gene was detected more than the Net-B gene.

Keywords: Broiler chickens, C. Perfringens, Tpel gene, PCR.