Characterization of Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli Serotypes Isolated from Poultry and Humans

including air sacculitis, colisepticemia, synovitis, osteomyelitis and cellulitis [4].Poultry has also been reported to be a reservoir for extra-intestinal pathogenic E. coli O45:K1:H7-B2-ST95 in humans [5] and the zoonotic potential of APEC strains is under consideration [6].EPEC infections are associated with outbreaks of neonatal diarrhea in infants from developing countries with clinical presentations that can range from self-limiting diarrhea to chronic enteritis and wasting [1].Shiga toxins (stx) produced by EHEC strains induce local damage in the colon resulting in hemorrhagic diarrhea, necrosis and intestinal perforation.In addition, stx target the kidneys where they damage the renal endothelial cells and occlude the microvasculature.The resulting nephritis leads to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which consists of acute renal failure, thrombocytopenia and micro angiopathic hemolytic anemia [1].Although molecular methods for identifying specific virulence genes are valuable procedures, serotyping remains a useful tool for epidemiologic studies.Globally, numerous studies have been conducted to determine the E. coli serotypes most frequently associated with disease in poultry [7].PCR has been developed to detect specific genes important in the virulence of microorganisms [8].It has also been reported that the similarity of virulence factors between septicemic E. coli strains in humans and avian pathogens represents a significant zoonotic risk [9].Studies by others have established similarities in the characteristics (serogroups, virulence genes and antibiograms) of E. coli strains isolated from poultry and poultry farm workers [10,11,12].Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the potential zoonotic spread of E. coli serogroups, and to compare the characteristics virulence genes of isolates from poultry and in-contact human beings, in addition the study assessed the usefulness of VCA in the detection of VTEC (vero toxigenic E. coli).