The pathogenicity of strains of Salmonella paratyphi B and Salmonella java.
OBJECTIVE
To relate the diseases caused by strains of Salmonella paratyphi B and S. java to pathogenic mechanisms expressed by these bacteria for the purpose of organism discrimination.


RESULTS
Epidemiological data relating to cases of disease caused by strains of S. paratyphi B and S. java, isolated over a 10-year period, were analysed with respect to patients' symptoms, particularly those involving enteric fever. Strains of S. paratyphi B and S. java were also examined for a range of known pathogenic mechanisms. Infection with S. paratyphi B involved pyrexia in 12.5% of patients compared with 2.2% of patients infected with S. java. These organisms could not be differentiated based on the pathogenic properties examined.


CONCLUSIONS
Strains of S. paratyphi B appear not to be a major cause of enteric fever but primarily a cause of gastroenteritis, in common with S. java. Both organisms express similar pathogenic mechanisms, and strains of S. java are probably d-tartrate utilizing variants of S. paratyphi B.


CONCLUSIONS
Strains of S. paratyphi B are very closely related organisms, primarily causing gastroenteritis. From this study it would appear that strains of S. paratyphi B are not a major cause of enteric fever.
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Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Division of Gastrointestinal Infections, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK. hchart@phls.org.uk
D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010284:Paratyphoid Fever / Q000382:microbiology; D011817:Rabbits; D012475:Salmonella / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D012484:Salmonella paratyphi B / Q000254:growth & development / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017262:Siderophores / Q000032:analysis
D001425:Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D017262:Siderophores