Molecular identification of Avibacterium paragallinarum isolates from backyard and commercial layer chickens in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Avian Health and Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

2 Department of Avian Disease Research and Diagnostics, Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Karaj, Iran

10.30466/vrf.2025.2064747.4815
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.

Keywords

Subjects

Volume 17, Issue 7
July 2026
Pages 489-496

  • Receive Date 10 July 2025
  • Revise Date 05 October 2025
  • Accept Date 27 October 2025