TY - JOUR

T1 - Experimental induced avian E. coli salpingitis

T2 - significant impact of strain and host factors on the clinical and pathological outcome

AU - Olsen, Rikke Heidemann

AU - Thøfner, Ida

AU - Pors, Susanne Elisabeth

AU - Pires dos Santos, Teresa M S

AU - Christensen, Jens Peter

N1 - Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PY - 2016

Y1 - 2016

N2 - Several types of Escherichia coli have been associated with extra-intestinal infections in poultry, however, they may vary significantly in their virulence potential. The aim of the present study was to investigate the virulence of five strains of E. coli obtained from different disease manifestations or from the cloacae of a healthy chicken. The virulence potential of the strains were evaluated in an avian experimental model for ascending infections, and experiments were conducted in both layers and broiler breeders. The clinical outcome of infection was highly depending on the challenge strain, however, not significantly reflecting the origin of the strain. In general, broiler breeders had a more severe clinical outcomes of infection compared to layers, but major with-in group diversity was observed for all challenge strains of clinical origin. A single strain of ST95 (phylogroup B2) had a distinct ability to cause disease. Results of the study shows major differences in virulence of different strains of E. coli in ascending infections; however, there was no indication of tissue-specific adaptation, since strains obtained from lesions unrelated to the reproductive system were fully capable of causing experimental infection. In conclusion, the study provides evidence for the clinical outcome of infection with E. coli in poultry is largely influenced by the specific strain as well as individual host factors.

AB - Several types of Escherichia coli have been associated with extra-intestinal infections in poultry, however, they may vary significantly in their virulence potential. The aim of the present study was to investigate the virulence of five strains of E. coli obtained from different disease manifestations or from the cloacae of a healthy chicken. The virulence potential of the strains were evaluated in an avian experimental model for ascending infections, and experiments were conducted in both layers and broiler breeders. The clinical outcome of infection was highly depending on the challenge strain, however, not significantly reflecting the origin of the strain. In general, broiler breeders had a more severe clinical outcomes of infection compared to layers, but major with-in group diversity was observed for all challenge strains of clinical origin. A single strain of ST95 (phylogroup B2) had a distinct ability to cause disease. Results of the study shows major differences in virulence of different strains of E. coli in ascending infections; however, there was no indication of tissue-specific adaptation, since strains obtained from lesions unrelated to the reproductive system were fully capable of causing experimental infection. In conclusion, the study provides evidence for the clinical outcome of infection with E. coli in poultry is largely influenced by the specific strain as well as individual host factors.

U2 - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.04.011

DO - 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.04.011

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27139030

VL - 188

SP - 59

EP - 66

JO - Veterinary Microbiology

JF - Veterinary Microbiology

SN - 0378-1135

ER -