A Method for Demonstrating the Cytolysin/Hemolysin of <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> Isolates of Poultry Origin

<i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> (<i>E. faecalis</i>) is a ubiquitous microbe occurring in the environment and in the intestinal tract of poultry. <i>E. faecalis</i> has been identified in cases of egg infertility and/or decreased hatchability and can cause amyloid ar...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Donald L. Reynolds, E. Barry Simpson, Matthew M. Hille
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Poultry
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1164/4/1/11
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Summary:<i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> (<i>E. faecalis</i>) is a ubiquitous microbe occurring in the environment and in the intestinal tract of poultry. <i>E. faecalis</i> has been identified in cases of egg infertility and/or decreased hatchability and can cause amyloid arthropathy in older laying chickens. <i>E. faecalis</i> produces cytolysin, a bacterial exotoxin that can cause lysis of erythrocytes. It has been difficult to demonstrate this virulence trait using conventional culture methods with sheep blood agar. A 96-well microplate hemolysis assay, along with a culture method incorporating glucose and L-arginine into the culture media, is described that demonstrates the production of cytolysin in <i>E. faecalis</i> isolates of avian origin. Additionally, the results show that horse and sheep erythrocytes were susceptible to lysis by the <i>E. faecalis</i> cytolysin, but cow and chicken erythrocytes were less susceptible.
ISSN:2674-1164