ANALYSIS OF THE GENETIC DIVERSITY AMONG Clostridium perfringens ISOLATES FROM CHICKENS.

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity among Clostridium perfringens isolates from commercial broiler chickens with necrotic enteritis. Isolates (n = 48) collected from chickens from different farms of São Paulo State, Brazil, were characterized by their in vitro susceptibility to antibiotics and PCR ribotyping. A high genetic diversity was found by both methods. Results showed that PCR ribotyping is suitable for classifying C. perfringens isolates below the species level and may be considered for epidemiological investigations of necrotic enteritis caused by this pathogen. KEY-WORDS: Clostridium perfringens. Necrotic enteritis. PCR-ribotyping. Chicken enteritis.