More than 60% of our isolates carried the following virulence factor genes, i.e., apr, lasB, phzI, phzII, phzH, phzM, phzS, exoS, exoY, lecA and lecB. Elastase LasB, a type II secretion system (T2SS)-dependent exoprotein (Braun et al., 1998) contributes to respiratory infections by degrading elastin (a major component of lung tissues) (Hamdaoui, Wund-Bisseret & Bieth, 1987). Here, ELN is linked to respiratory tract infectious disorder.