The study was conducted to isolate and toxinotype the suspected cases of Clostridium perfringens infections of broiler farms in Sulaimania province. A total of 108 samples were collected from intestinal contents, mucosal scraping, and hemorrhagic lymphoid nodules from suspected cases of necrotic enteritis in broilers. The result of isolated and identified bacteria were revealed that 63 (58%) out of 108 samples were positive for C. perfringens. The results revealed that the isolates were only positive for alpha and beta2 toxin genes. Phylogenetic and DNA sequence analysis of cpa and cpb2 gene showed that cpa genes were highly identical to isolates from broiler in Iran, poultry stool and broiler in Brazil, and blue calves in Belgium. While cpb2 gene is closely related to the isolates of broiler in Iran, India and isolates of goat in Pakistan. The results indicated that the causative agent of necrotic enteritis in broiler farms in the region was mainly due to C. perfringens type A infection
Key words: Clostridium perfringens; Characterization; Necrotic enteritis; Toxin
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