Analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of the genetic diversity among Clostridium perfringens isolates from chickens.
The aim of this study was to analyse the genetic diversity among Clostridium perfringens isolates from Danish broiler chickens since both sick and presumably healthy animals were investigated. Isolates (n=279) collected from chickens from 25 farms were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with the restriction enzyme SmaI. A high genetic diversity was found. Isolates with different PFGE types were toxin typed by PCR and all were found to be of type A. The results showed that healthy broiler chickens carried several different C. perfringens clones both within a flock and even within individual birds, whereas flocks suffering from necrotic enteritis (NE) or cholangio-hepatitis carried only one or two clones.
Nauerby
B
B
Department of Poultry, Danish Veterinary Institute, Fish and Fur Animals, Hangøvej 2, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark. bn@vetinst.dk
Pedersen
K
K
Madsen
M
M
D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D002353:Carrier State / Q000662:veterinary; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003718:Denmark; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D014644:Genetic Variation; D010802:Phylogeny; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004768:Enterotoxins