University of Basra master's thesis examines molecular screening of shiga toxins
A master's thesis at the University of Basra's College of Veterinary Medicine investigated the molecular screening of Shiga toxins in Escherichia coli bacteria isolated from chicken fecal samples.
The thesis, submitted by researcher Sara Jassim Mohammed, aimed to diagnose early infection in birds and control pathogenic bacteria in the poultry sector because of its impact on animal health and public health.
The thesis included the determination of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance characteristics in isolates of Escherichia coli hemorrhagic (STEC) and avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC).
The results of the study showed that the isolates taken from fecal samples of broiler chickens did not carry shiga toxin genes (stx1 and stx2), but a small percentage of them contained virulence genes associated with the avian pathogenic strain, which is characterized by possessing important virulence genes and high resistance to antibiotics used to treat human pathogenic Escherichia coli.
Department of Media and Government Communication
