Colibacillosis is a disease caused by avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and is one of the principle cause of morbidity and mortality in poultry worldwide which is represented by a complex syndrome characterized by multiple organ lesions. This study was carried out to determine phylogenetic grouping and virulenceassociated genes contained by E. coli isolates which is related in causing disease in chicken. E. coli isolates obtained from clinical cases of Veterinary ResearchInstitute were re-identified by conventional methods. Phylogenetic grouping of the isolates was determined by triplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the presence of eight virulence genes were identified by multiplex PCR. A total of 125 E. coli isolates were subjected toanalysis of phylogenetic background and virulence associated genes profiling. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that most of the E. coli isolated from chicken in this study belonged to group B1 (36.0%),group D (28.0%), group A (27.2%) and group B2 (8.8%). Multiplex PCR analysis demonstrated that 96 (78.6%) of the E. coli isolates harbored at least one virulencegene, while 29 (23.3%) did not contain any virulence genes tested. The most prevalent virulence genes identified were iss (51.2%), followed by iucD (36.0%),tsh (32.8%), vat (16.0%), astA (13.6%), irp2 (11.2%), papC (9.6%) and the least is cva/cvi gene (0%). None of the isolates harbored more than four virulence genes.Each of phylogenetic groups presented with different combinations of virulence genes, with no specific combinations of virulence genes found to correlate withE. coli phylogroups. None of the E. coli isolates harbored more than four virulence genes, suggesting that E. coli isolates from chicken in this study appear to bederived from commensal strains and may relate to environmental predispose factors especially stress factors in the host to establish infection.

A total of thirty-eight Mafriwal cattle were selected from a localcattle herd of a government cattle farm; of which 36 animals were sub-fertile Mafriwal female dams and two bulls which were considered as control animals (one male Mafriwal and one male Jersey). Two markers were used in the detection of Y chromosome in the sub-fertile female animal which are testis specific proteins Y-encoded (TSPY) and amelogenin (AMLX/AMLY) genes. The genes were amplified using PCR. The DNA bands from a normal male for TSPY gene size was approximately 260 bp while AMLX/ AMLY gene were approximately 341 and 467 bp. The examination of all samples showed that the sub-fertile cow revealedonly 467 bp while three fragments were detected in the control group; 260 bp (testis specific protein, Y-encoded gene), 341 and 467 bp (Amelogenin gene). The results showed that the sex chromosomeanomalies associated with Y chromosome did not occur in this group. These two sex markers can be used for the diagnosis of Y chromosome abnormality in a sub-fertile cow through polymerase chain reactionwhich is a rapid and reliable method for use in breeding herds.

The world widely distributed infection by Rhodococcus equi usually leads to pneumonia and associated respiratory signs. This study is aimed at detecting the occurrence of this pathogen in selected horse farms. A total of 12 R. equi isolates from few samples (13.89%) were successfully obtained from soil and faeces collected from two selected farms. However, based on the vapA gene classification, only one virulent R. equi isolate was identified.