title: Molecular characterization of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from diseased turkeys in Italy.
abstract: One hundred and six Clostridium perfringens field strains, isolated from diseased turkeys in Italy between 2006 and 2015, were toxinotyped by polymerase chain reaction. Strains were derived from intestines (87), livers (17) and subcutaneous tissues (2). In addition to the four major toxins, strains were also screened for NetB toxin, enterotoxin and beta2 toxin encoding genes. The intestinal gross lesions of turkeys with enteric disorders were statistically studied with respect to the presence of C. perfringens beta2 toxin encoding gene and coccidia in the gut. All the isolates belonged to the toxinotype A and were netB negative. Enterotoxin (cpe) and beta2 toxin (cpb2) encoding genes were detected in two (2.63%) and 76 (71.69%) strains, respectively. Toxinotype results agree with the few published reports concerning the genetic characterization of C. perfringens of turkey origin. On the contrary, the presence of netB and cpb2 genes differs from the results of a previous study where these genes were detected respectively in 6.6% and in 0.5% of the tested strains. Necrotic enteritis in turkeys was not statistically correlated either to the presence of cpb2 gene, or to the synergistic effect operated by coccidia, even though a high percentage of birds with these protozoa in the gut showed necrotic enteritis lesions (64.29%).
authors.affiliation: a Laboratorio Tre Valli , Viale A. Veronesi 5, Verona , Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giovanardi
authors.affiliation: b Microbiology and Diagnostic Laboratory , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie , Villorba di Treviso , Italy.
authors.forename: Ilenia
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Drigo
authors.affiliation: b Microbiology and Diagnostic Laboratory , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie , Villorba di Treviso , Italy.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: De Vidi
authors.affiliation: b Microbiology and Diagnostic Laboratory , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie , Villorba di Treviso , Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agnoletti
authors.affiliation: b Microbiology and Diagnostic Laboratory , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie , Villorba di Treviso , Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viel
authors.affiliation: c Epidemiological Unit, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie , Legnaro , Italy.
authors.forename: Katia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Capello
authors.affiliation: b Microbiology and Diagnostic Laboratory , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie , Villorba di Treviso , Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Berto
authors.affiliation: b Microbiology and Diagnostic Laboratory , Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie , Villorba di Treviso , Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bano
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics; D003015:Clostridium Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003048:Coccidiosis / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004751:Enteritis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007558:Italy; D009336:Necrosis / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D014422:Turkeys / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; C534774:NetB protein, Clostridium perfringens; C109896:cpb2 protein, Clostridium perfringens
keywords: Clostridium perfringens; Turkey; beta2 toxin; coccidiosis; necrotic enteritis; toxinotype