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A molecular study of Salmonella strains identified from two food-poisoning outbreaks
Abstract:
A molecular epidemiology study was carried out on Salmonella mbandaka and Salmonella corvallis strains identified from two food-poisoning outbreaks which occurred in August 1985 in Pistoia and in October 1985 in Sant'Ilario d'Enza (RE). All the Salmonella mbandaka strains were plasmid-free; all the epidemic Salmonella corvallis strains, in contrast to the non epidemic isolates, carried a small plasmid of approximately 2 MDa molecular weight. Restriction enzyme cleavage pattern analysis revealed that the plasmids of the epidemic strains were closely related.
Insights
This study investigated Salmonella strains from food poisoning outbreaks. Epidemic Salmonella corvallis strains carried a related 2 MDa plasmid, unlike Salmonella mbandaka strains.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Foodborne illness outbreaks pose significant public health challenges.
- Salmonella species are common causes of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide.
- Understanding the molecular basis of Salmonella outbreaks is crucial for control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a molecular epidemiology study of Salmonella mbandaka and Salmonella corvallis strains.
- To investigate the characteristics of strains involved in two distinct food-poisoning outbreaks in Italy.
- To identify potential genetic markers differentiating epidemic from non-epidemic Salmonella isolates.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of Salmonella strains from outbreak samples.
- Plasmid profiling to detect extrachromosomal DNA.
- Restriction enzyme analysis of plasmids to assess genetic relatedness.
Main Results:
- All Salmonella mbandaka strains analyzed were plasmid-free.
- Epidemic Salmonella corvallis strains possessed a small plasmid (approximately 2 MDa).
- Non-epidemic Salmonella corvallis isolates lacked this plasmid, and epidemic strains showed closely related plasmid restriction patterns.
Conclusions:
- The presence of a specific 2 MDa plasmid is associated with epidemic Salmonella corvallis strains.
- Plasmid analysis provides insights into the molecular epidemiology of Salmonella outbreaks.
- This finding aids in differentiating outbreak-related strains and understanding their transmission.