Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 2007 - Volume 135, Issue 04  

Research Article

Epidemiological tracing of Salmonella enterica serotype Abortusovis from Spanish ovine flocks by PFGE fingerprinting

S. VALDEZATEa1 c1, R. ASTORGAa2, S. HERRERA-LEÓNa1, A. PEREAa2, M. A. USERAa1, B. HUERTAa2 and A. ECHEITAa1

a1 Spanish Reference Laboratory for Salmonella and Shigella (LNRSSE), Servicio de Bacteriología, C.N.M. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain

a2 Departamento de Sanidad Animal (Enfermedades Infecciosas), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, Spain

SUMMARY

Salmonella enterica serotype Abortusovis, an ovine host-specific serotype, rare in most countries, is responsible for epidemic abortion episodes in Spain. With the aim of surveillance and detection of the spread of specific clones, 55 Abortusovis isolates collected during 1996–2001 from flocks in 11 provinces, were studied using XbaI–PFGE. Despite the fact that the strains were geographically and spatially related, PFGE demonstrated an epidemiologically acceptable discriminating power, identifying 20 clones (similarity, 52–96%). Clones Sabv6, 1, 5 were disseminated in seven, five and two areas respectively, while another 17 clones appeared in single places. Clones from nearby geographic regions showed a high relatedness (one band of difference in the PFGE profile) Sabv1-2-3, Sabv5-6, Sabv7-8, and Sabv13-14, suggesting a common ancestor. Co-isolation in the same flock (Sabv5-6, Sabv1-3, Sabv1-6) was detected. PFGE surveillance detected the predominance and widespread distribution of clone Sabv6 in 21 out of the 55 Abortusovis serotype episodes studied in Spain.

(Accepted May 31 2006)

(Online publication August 10 2006)

Correspondence:

c1 *Author for correspondence: Dr S. Valdezate, Servicio de Bacteriología. C.N.M. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Crra, Majadahonda-Pozuelo Km2, Madrid-28220, Spain. (Email: svaldezate@isciii.es)

Metrics
Related Content