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Outbreak investigation and case-control study: penta-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 associated with biltong

M J Mindlin1, N Lang, H Maguire

  • 1Health Protection Agency, Regional Epidemiology Unit, London, UK. miranda.mindlin@hpa.org.uk

Epidemiology and Infection
|January 3, 2013
PubMed

Insights

A Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 outbreak in London was linked to beef biltong consumption. This South African meat product significantly increased outbreak risk, highlighting concerns for food safety and uncontrolled foodstuffs.

Area of Science:

  • Foodborne illness
  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • An outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 occurred in South West London in August 2008.
  • Sixteen cases were identified with a specific multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) pattern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the source and risk factors associated with the Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 outbreak.
  • To determine the association between beef biltong consumption and illness.

Main Methods:

  • A matched case-control study was conducted with 14 primary cases and 56 controls.
  • Cases had gastrointestinal symptoms and confirmed Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 with a specific antibiotic resistance profile and MLVA pattern.
  • Controls were matched for age, gender, and area of residence.

Main Results:

  • Cases were 26 times more likely to have consumed beef biltong compared to controls (odds ratio 25.83).
  • Environmental investigation did not detect Salmonella in the implicated food product.

Conclusions:

  • Consumption of beef biltong was identified as the likely cause of the Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 outbreak.
  • This finding has implications for the risk assessment of unregulated food products.

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