Drug resistance and pathogenicity analyses of 10 strains of Rimerella anatipestifer isolated from geese in Jiangsu

Abstract:

[Background] Riemerella anatipestifer (RA) is one of the most serious bacterial diseases in water poultry industry. The incidence of Rimerella anatipestifer from geese is increasing, it also brings great economic losses in goose industry. [Objective] To better prevent Rimerella anatipestitis infection in the geese, solve the problems of clinical medication in goose farms and further clarify the relationship between the duck- and goose-origin of RA strains. [Methods] Bacteria were isolated from moribund or dead geese in Jiangsu province and identified by multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and biochemical test. Ten RA strains isolated from the geese were tested for the drug susceptibility, serotypes and pathogenicity in ducks. [Results] Drug sensitivity test showed that majority of the 10 strains from geese were sensitive to mesomycin, sulfafurazole, ceftriaxone, cefradine and florfenicol, but resistance to neomycin, kanamycin, amikacin, gentamicin and clindamycin. All ten strains were multi-drug resistance to 15-25 tested drugs. Serotype 2 was the main serotype of 10 Rimerella anatipestifer isolated from geese in Jiangsu province. Pathogenicity tests on ducklings showed that all the Rimerella anatipestitis isolates from geese caused different degrees of disease in ducklings, and the mortality rate of 3 clinical isolates from geese after 1×10⁷ CFU/feathering challenge was 100%. [Conclusion] This study provides a basis for the prevention, control and clinical treatment of Rimerella anatipestifer from geese in Jiangsu, as well as the further study of the relationship between Rimerella anatipestifer between the duck- and goose-origin of RA strains.