[Plasmid profiles of different Salmonella serovars from poultry flocks in Germany]

151 salmonella isolates belonging to 6 serotypes and originating from diverse material collected in broiler chicken farms, hatcheries and poultry slaughteries in Northern Germany during 1984 and 1990 were investigated for their plasmid DNA content. This is the first report describing plasmids of S. saint-paul, isolated from poultry lines. The different plasmids of 22 Md, 3.1 Md, 2.4 Md and 1.1 Md molecular weight can be used for further epidemiological studies of salmonellosis in poultry. The 62 Md plasmid of S. typhimurium and the 36 Md plasmid of S. enteritidis have been found to be serovar specific. The smaller plasmids (m. w. less than 5.0 Md), found in S. virchow and S. blockley can be used for further epidemiological studies.