Molecular identification of Avibacterium paragallinarum isolates from backyard and commercial layer chickens in Iran
- 1Department of Avian Health and Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
- 2Department of Avian Disease Research and Diagnostics, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran.
Abstract
Infectious coryza, caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum, poses a significant economic threat to the global poultry industry. Although infectious coryza is present in Iran, there is limited molecular data characterizing the circulating strains, particularly regarding key hemagglutinin genes such as hagA. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Av. paragallinarum isolates recovered from commercial and backyard poultry in Iran by sequencing the hagA gene and comparing the findings with those of global strains. Twenty-three Av. paragallinarum isolates collected from Iranian poultry farms underwent PCR amplification and sequencing of the hagA gene. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were analyzed for homology, subjected to BLAST searches, and used for phylogenetic reconstruction. The isolates showed high sequence identity, ranging from 94.10 - 99.90% at the nucleotide level and 92.10 - 100% at the protein level. Phylogenetic analysis classified the isolates into five distinct clusters (Iran-1 to Iran-5). The largest cluster (Iran-1) showed a strong affiliation with strains from China and India, whereas the other isolates clustered with strains from South Korea, Germany, and Japan. Notably, the Iran-5 group exhibited high similarity to a non-typable strain from USA. Additionally, eight isolates encoded truncated HagA proteins, each consisting of 344 rather than 345 amino acids. This study demonstrates the circulation of genetically diverse Av. paragallinarum strains in Iran. These findings highlight the need for further molecular investigations to improve control measures and assess the efficacy of the vaccines currently used in the country.
Related
- Molecular characterization of infectious bronchitis virus isolates from Russia and neighbouring countries: identification of intertypic recombination in the S1 gene
- An integrative identification approach reveals that subspecies hybridization in Bombus terrestris predates commercial use and varies with greenhouse density
- Imipenem/cilastatin/relebactam treatment of hospital-acquired/ventilator-associated bacterial pneumonia caused by imipenem-nonsusceptible pathogens: Subgroup analysis and molecular characterization of isolates from the RESTORE-IMI 2 clinical study
- Comparative study of a reference PCR assay targeting kinetoplast DNA and a commercial kit targeting ribosomal DNA for the molecular diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis
- Revisiting the Endophytic Fungi Residing Within Axonopus compressus: Molecular Identification, Antagonistic Potential, and Extracellular Enzyme Activities
BibTeX
@article{poorshamohammad2026molecular,
title = {{Molecular identification of Avibacterium paragallinarum isolates from backyard and commercial layer chickens in Iran}},
author = {Chnoor Poorshamohammad and Mohammad Hassanzadeh and Abbas Nouri and Mohammad Hassan Bozorgmehrifard and Mohammad Abdoshah and Fereshteh Sabouri and Mohsen Bashashati},
journal = {Veterinary Research Forum},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.30466/vrf.2025.2064747.4815},
url = {https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2025.2064747.4815},
note = {CC BY-NC-SA 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Molecular identification of Avibacterium paragallinarum isolates from backyard and commercial layer chickens in Iran
AU - Chnoor Poorshamohammad
AU - Mohammad Hassanzadeh
AU - Abbas Nouri
AU - Mohammad Hassan Bozorgmehrifard
AU - Mohammad Abdoshah
AU - Fereshteh Sabouri
AU - Mohsen Bashashati
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/15
JO - Veterinary Research Forum
DO - 10.30466/vrf.2025.2064747.4815
UR - https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2025.2064747.4815
AB - Infectious coryza, caused by Avibacterium paragallinarum, poses a significant economic threat to the global poultry industry. Although infectious coryza is present in Iran, there is limited molecular data characterizing the circulating strains, particularly regarding key hemagglutinin genes such as hagA. This study aimed to investigate the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of the Av. paragallinarum isolates recovered from commercial and backyard poultry in Iran by sequencing the hagA gene and comparing the findings with those of global strains. Twenty-three Av. paragallinarum isolates collected from Iranian poultry farms underwent PCR amplification and sequencing of the hagA gene. Nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences were analyzed for homology, subjected to BLAST searches, and used for phylogenetic reconstruction. The isolates showed high sequence identity, ranging from 94.10 - 99.90% at the nucleotide level and 92.10 - 100% at the protein level. Phylogenetic analysis classified the isolates into five distinct clusters (Iran-1 to Iran-5). The largest cluster (Iran-1) showed a strong affiliation with strains from China and India, whereas the other isolates clustered with strains from South Korea, Germany, and Japan. Notably, the Iran-5 group exhibited high similarity to a non-typable strain from USA. Additionally, eight isolates encoded truncated HagA proteins, each consisting of 344 rather than 345 amino acids. This study demonstrates the circulation of genetically diverse Av. paragallinarum strains in Iran. These findings highlight the need for further molecular investigations to improve control measures and assess the efficacy of the vaccines currently used in the country.
SN - 2008-8140
SN - 2322-3618
ER -