Molecular Typing of Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium, Typhi, and Enteritidis Isolated in Taiwan

HAU-YANG TSEN

 

Department of Food Science, National Chung-Hsing University, 250 Kuokuang Road, Taichung, Taiwan, R.O.C.

(Received: September 30, 2002; Accepted: November 21, 2002)

 

ABSTRACT 

 Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium, Typhi, and Enteritidis are serious food pathogens which may cause human disease and/or animal infections. In an attempt to elucidate the clonal relationship in each of these species, to find the most disseminated and recirculating strains in food poisoning cases, and to discern the possible transmission of these strains from different origins and areas, we have used phage typing, antibiograms and molecular typing methods, such as plasmid profiles, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) to identify subtypes of these Salmonella strains. The results showed that in Salmonella Typhimurium and Typhi strains, considerable genetic diversity were found while in S. Enteritidis, high genetic similarity was observed. Also possibly, the most disseminated and recirculating strains of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis were identified. Strains of these common subtypes might be the most prevalent strains and transmission of strains between different areas and origins might be possible.