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An enteric infection by Salmonella typhimurium: a multiple typing study
A Nastasi1, C Mammina, M R Villafrate
1Istituto d'lgiene G' D'Alessandro, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Italy.
Abstract:
A multiple typing analysis was carried out on 14 apparently heterogeneous Salmonella typhimurium strains recovered during a 3 week period from an enteritis case. Conjugational transfer of resistance determinants and restriction endonuclease fingerprinting of plasmids allowed the different isolates of S. typhimurium to be attributed to a single clone.
Insights
Multiple Salmonella typhimurium strains from a single enteritis case were analyzed. Genetic analysis revealed all isolates originated from a single clone, indicating a common source of infection.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriology
Background:
- Salmonella typhimurium is a significant cause of bacterial gastroenteritis.
- Differentiating between multiple strains of S. typhimurium is crucial for outbreak investigations.
- Understanding the clonal origin of bacterial infections aids in source tracking and control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic relatedness of multiple S. typhimurium isolates from a single patient.
- To determine if the observed heterogeneity in S. typhimurium strains reflected distinct infections or a single clonal expansion.
Main Methods:
- Multiple typing analysis was performed on 14 S. typhimurium isolates.
- Conjugational transfer of resistance determinants was utilized.
- Plasmid DNA was analyzed using restriction endonuclease fingerprinting.
Main Results:
- The 14 S. typhimurium isolates appeared heterogeneous initially.
- Genetic analyses, including plasmid fingerprinting, demonstrated a shared clonal origin.
- Resistance determinants were transferable, consistent with a single clone.
Conclusions:
- The diverse S. typhimurium isolates recovered from the enteritis case were derived from a single clone.
- This finding highlights the importance of advanced typing methods in tracing bacterial infections.
- The study underscores the utility of molecular techniques in identifying the source of S. typhimurium outbreaks.