[Application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis in a food-borne outbreak of Salmonella serotype Muenchen infection].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in food-borne outbreak.


METHODS
Pathogens were isolated and further characteristics identified by traditional methods. The strains isolated were carried out with molecular typing with using PFGE. PFGE was performed by Laboratory Directions for molecular subtyping of Salmonella by PFGE (CDC, USA) and the results of PFGE were analyzed by BioNumerics soft.


RESULTS
Totally 14 Salmonella serotype Muenchen strains were isolated from 19 patients, 3 of 9 suspicious foods were positive for S. muenchen and 7 strains were isolated from 18 cooks. The biochemistry characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of all the strains isolated were the same. 23 S. muenchen isolates were all shown indistinguishable by PFGE.


CONCLUSIONS
PFGE should play a key role in identifying the outbreak-associated isolates and distinguishing them from unrelated sporadic isolates. It might also demonstrate that the genetic fingerprints of serotype Muenchen isolates derived from patients were indistinguishable from those derived from drinks. PFGE might provide precise information on bacterial food-borne pathogens, promptly identify the source of infection, and effectively prevent from spreading. It should be one of the early warning method on controlling outbreak of the food-borne disease.
Chen
Mao-yi
MY
Jingzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Jingzhou 434000, China.
Hu
Jie
J
Hu
Qing-hua
QH
Lan
Quan-xue
QX
Zhang
Qi-liang
QL
Shi
Tao
T
Liu
Jian-zhao
JZ
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012703:Serotyping