Molecular identification of 20 Escherichia coli isolates from dead neonatal camel calves (Camelus dromedarius) in the United Arab Emirates Hassan F.A.1,2, Wernery U.3, Joseph M.3, Anouassi A.1, Mariena K.2, Rangsun P.2 1Advanced Scientific Group, Abu Dhabi, UAE 2Suraneree University of Technology, Thailand 3Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Dubai, UAE email: fabdishakur@asgroup.ae
Online published on 30 January, 2020. Abstract Escherichia coli causes major neonatal diarrhoea resulting in a high camel calf mortality. In this study, we concentrated on the gut microbiota of dead 1 to 2 week-old camel calves. Faecal samples were collected during necropsy from small intestines of calves which had died from colibacillosis. Twenty E. coli strains were isolated and all of them were successfully amplified by conventional PCR of the 16S rRNA E. coli gene. The strains were further tested using the commercially made real-time kits PowerChek Diarrhoeal E. coli 4-plex Real-time PCR Kit I and II (Kogenebiotech, Seoul, Korea) that target 8 pathogenic E. coli genes. All 20 samples analysed showed negative results. Even after sequencing and blasting against the GenBank database, all six pathotype strains were excluded and all GenBank data were matched with commensal flora of E. coli. Since the immune system of newly born camels is weak and their immune response is immature, infection might result from unsanitary conditions in breeding herds, ingestion of contaminated mother's milk or unhygienic food. Other virulence factors of E. coli could also be responsible for these calf fatalities. Top Keywords Camel, E. coli strains, molecular identification. Top |