title: Persistence of cellulitis-associated Escherichia coli DNA fingerprints in successive broiler chicken flocks.
abstract: Avian cellulitis in broiler chickens is primarily caused by Escherichia coli. Previous research found that the E. coli isolates of cellulitis origin were unique to each ranch, suggesting that these E. coli were endemic within the ranch environment. To test the hypothesis that the E. coli associated with cellulitis are endemic in the litter of the broiler house, we designed a study to determine whether E. coli DNA fingerprints associated with cellulitis persist over successive flocks that are grown in the same house. In addition, we assessed the impact of different cleaning and disinfection strategies on this persistence. Two broiler houses were followed on each of five farms over 3-4 flocks. A total of 353 E. coli isolates from cellulitis lesions were analyzed in this study, and 314 of these isolates (89%) were DNA fingerprinted by PFGE. In each ranch, there were several DNA fingerprint patterns that were present over successive flocks, regardless of the cleaning and disinfection strategy utilized. Isolates persisted as long as 191 days, implying that these E. coli are capable of persisting in the broiler house environment for long periods of time. In addition, these E. coli isolates were associated with cellulitis lesions in successive flocks. Thus, the isolates of E. coli that are associated with cellulitis in broiler chickens appear to be endemic in the litter environment of the broiler house.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA. rsinger@uiuc.edu
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Singer
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Jeffrey
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Carpenter
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cooke
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Atwill
authors.forename: W O
authors.initials: WO
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hirsh
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D002481:Cellulitis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D002645:Chickens; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific / Q000737:chemistry; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000662:veterinary; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics*; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D010802:Phylogeny; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; C041749:endodeoxyribonuclease SfiI; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; C038565:GCGGCCGC-specific type II deoxyribonucleases