Abstract

A total of two-hudred (200) P. multocida isolates obtained from Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Petaling Jaya were screened for their presence of plasmid via alkaline lysis method (Sambrook, et al. 1989). The size, number and profile of plasmids for each isolate were estimated by agarose gel electrophoresis. 37% were noted to harbor small plasmid DNA, ranging in size from 1.5 to 3.6 Mda and there was no presence of large plasmids in all isolates. No plasmids could be detected for serotype A. The plasmid size ranged from 1.5 to 3.6 megadaltons (Mda) with seven different plasmid profiles. All isolates of P. multocida serotype B were found to contain a common plasmids. The finding of this study will help to further investigate whether any of these plasmids are related to virulence mechanism (pathogenicity) of P. multocida. Therefore, the aim of this study is to detect the presence of plasmids in isolates of P. multocida serotype A, B, D and untypable (U).

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