Detection of virulence factors in Escherichia coli and analysis of Salmonella spp. in psittacines

Correa I.M.O, Flores F., Schneiders G.H., Pereira L.Q., Brito B.G. & Lovato M. 2013. [Detection of virulence factors in Escherichia coli and analysis of Salmonella spp. in psittacines.] Deteccao de fatores de virulencia de Escherichia coli e analise de Salmonella spp. em psitacideos. Pesquisa Veterinaria Brasileira 33(2):241-246. Departamento de Medicina Veterinaria Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima 1000, Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil. E-mail: maristelalovato@gmail.com The enteric flora of psittacines is mainly composed of Gram positive bacteria. Gram negative bacteria, like Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., have a high pathogenic potential and can be considerate as an indicative of management problems that may culminate in disease manifestation due to stress factors, poor diets and overcrowding, in combination with a high bacterial load on the environment. The objective of this study was evaluated the presence of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and the virulence genes iss and iutA from E. coli isolates. Forty-four samples were analyzed from psittacines living in captivity, which fifteen samples were from organs fragments of necropsied birds, and twenty-nine were from cloacal and crop swabs of red-spectacled parrots (Amazona pretrei) keeping in captivity. No samples were positive for Salmonella spp. In the samples in which E. coli was detected, both virulence factors (genes iss and iutA) were present.