title: Use of epidemiologic markers to identify the source of Escherichia coli infections in poultry.
abstract: During an epidemiologic study of poultry colisepticemia on 2 Saudi Arabian poultry broiler farms, Escherichia coli was isolated from 101 (40.4%) of the 250 specimens examined. The antigenic structure and the drug resistance pattern of 65.4% of the E coli isolates from different sources were used as epidemiologic markers to trace the source of the infection. The predominant E coli serotypes involved in infections of 2 poultry broiler progeny farms were 033:H4 (51.8%) and 078:H- (19.6%) that had the following respective drug resistance patterns: furazolidone-streptomycin-sulfathiazole and streptomycin-sulfathiazole-tetracycline. Escherichia coli strains with typical epidemiologic markers were isolated from various sources on a broiler breeding farm, but not from well waters of the infected progeny farm. Three other E coli serotypes (045:H10[14.3%], 0119:H27[1.8%], and 0145:H25[1.8%]) were involved in poultry infection, but to a lesser extent. These 3 serotypes were multiply resistant against 5 to 6 of the antimicrobials evaluated.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000662:veterinary*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012703:Serotyping / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents