Molecular detection and phylogenetic analysis of Citrobacter freundii isolates from broilers in AL- Diwaniyah province of Iraq

Abstract

Because of the medicinal and economic importance of Citrobacter freundii, as well as the fact that there are only a few local studies on it, the purpose of this study was to isolate and identify this important bacterial species from chicken using differential media with comparable biochemical properties. There is a severe concern about the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) creating bacteria in animal husbandry, which could be transmitted to humans. C. freundii was detected through the use of specific associated genes that enable this bacterium to resist the effects of antibiotics, making it highly resistant. For detection of this bacteria and recognition of distinct types of resistance genes, polymerase chain reaction was used. Further confirmation, purified PCR product was subjected to sequencing. It showed 99.80% homology with Switzerland isolates available in the NCBI database. Forty two isolates of C. freundii were isolated from (450) fecal sample collected from different region of AL- Diwaniyah province.