LAUSR

The aim of this study was to compare phylogenic groups and virulence genes profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from poultry suffering from Colibacillosis with E.coli in the intestinal flora of healthy poultry. For this purpose, var, tsh, iucd, papc, irp2, and iss virulence genes of E. coli were investigated by multiplex PCR in 70 isolates (35 obtained from healthy samples and the other 35 isolated were attained form those with Colibacillosis) in Ardabil province, northwest of Iran. The phylogenic groups were also determined through use of PCR multiplex. Among them, 32 isolates (91%) of samples taken from poultry with Colibacillosis and 27 isolates (77%) from healthy samples contained papc gene. The results for iucd, var, and irp2 genes were 17 healthy and 20 diseased isolates, 23 healthy and 28 diseased isolates, and 32 healthy and 29 diseased isolates, respectively. In the case of tsh gene, only one isolate from healthy samples included the mentioned gene; while iss gene was observed in none of the isolates. In terms of phylogeny groups, except one, all the isolates belonged to the phylogenic group D. Results of present research revealed that the frequency of virulence genes and the diversity of phylogeny groups in isolates from healthy and diseased samples are not significantly different in the studied area.