BACKGROUND:Foodborne outbreaks associated with shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) have been well documented worldwide. STECs are major causative agents of gastroenteritis in humans that may be complicated by hemorrhagic colitis (HC), hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), and thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura (TTP).OBJECTIVES:The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of virulence-associated genes includingeaeA,hlyA,stx1 and stx2inEscherichia colistrainsisolated from broiler's Colibacillosis in Northeast of Iran.METHODS:From total of 78 E.coli strains isolated from yolk sac infection,hepatitis and pericarditis which were referred to educational veterinary clinic during 2011-2014, isolatessubculturing were performed, using selective media and a typical colony from each samplewassubjected to multiplex PCR assaysfor identification the presence of STEC important virulence-associated genes(eaeA,hlyA,stx1 and stx2) causingshiga toxin-mediated diseases.RESULTS: Of 78 E.coliisolates, one isolate was positive for both eaeA and hlyA genes while negative forstx1 and stx2 genes.CONCLUSIONS:The results showedlow prevalence of STEC virulence genes associated with human infections in avian pathogenic E.coli(APEC) strains isolated from different flocks of broilers affected with colibacillosis

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