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SALMATcor: microagglutination for Salmonella flagella serotyping
Francisco Duarte Martínez1, Luz Marina Sánchez-Salazar, María Teresa Acuña-Calvo
1Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud (INCIENSA), Centro de Excelencia Regional WHO-GFN para Centro América, México y Caribe de Habla Hispana, Centro Nacional de Referencia de Bacteriología (CNRB), Tres Ríos, Cartago, Costa Rica.
A new Salmonella flagella microagglutination test (SALMATcor) significantly reduces antisera needs and costs for Salmonella serovar identification. This method offers excellent accuracy and specificity, aiding global Salmonella surveillance efforts.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Immunology
- Public Health
Background:
- Salmonella bacteria, with over 2400 serovars, are zoonotic and cause significant human and animal diseases.
- Accurate Salmonella serotyping is crucial for public health, animal health, agriculture, and industry surveillance.
- Traditional serotyping requires extensive antisera, posing limitations for global surveillance programs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a cost-effective Salmonella flagella microagglutination test (SALMATcor).
- To reduce the volume of antisera required for Salmonella serovar characterization.
- To enhance the feasibility of global Salmonella surveillance.
Main Methods:
- Developed SALMATcor by scaling down antigen:antiserum volumes fivefold compared to the standard tube agglutination technique (STAT).
- Validated SALMATcor using ISO/DIS 16140:1999 protocol with 1187 comparisons against STAT.
- Tested SALMATcor with 141 Salmonella isolates from 12 common serotypes and WHO proficiency testing strains.
Main Results:
- SALMATcor demonstrated excellent concordance with STAT (Cohen's kappa index 0.9982).
- Achieved relative accuracy and specificity exceeding 99.9%.
- Achieved 100% concordance in identifying WHO proficiency testing strains since 2004.
Conclusions:
- SALMATcor is a highly accurate and specific method for Salmonella serovar identification.
- The test significantly reduces antisera requirements, costs, and laboratory resource needs.
- SALMATcor is poised to facilitate sustainable Salmonella surveillance worldwide.
