Abstract Edwardsiella ictaluri is a Gram-negative bacterium causing enteric septicemia of catfish (ESC), leading to significant economic losses in the catfish farming industry. RT-PCR analysis is a powerful technique for quantifying gene expression, but normalization of expression data is critical to control experimental errors. Using stable reference genes, also known as housekeeping genes, is a common strategy for normalization, yet reference gene selection often lacks proper validation.
