Molecular identification of <i>Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale</i> in turkeys in Isfahan province of Iran

Abstract

Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT) is a gram negative, pleomorphic, rod shaped and non-motile bacterial pathogen mostly known to cause respiratory tract infections in turkeys. Ornithobacteriosis is an infectious disease of avian species that has been reported in almost all countries around the world. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of ORT in turkeys in Isfahan province of Iran. DNA was extracted from 375 collected tracheal swabs and lungs samples and amplified by ORT 16S rRNA gene specific primers using the PCR technique. ORT DNA was detected in 75 samples (19.93%) of broiler turkeys in Isfahan province of Iran. The results of this study demonstrated the widespread of ORT in broiler turkeys and confirmed that infection with ORT have a high prevalence in Iran.

Key words: Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (ORT), turkey, polymerase chain reaction, Iran.