An external quality assessment of PFGE method to discriminate between salmonella serotypes and lysotypes was carried out by the Salm-Gene project in Europe. A set of 16 strains of S. Enteritidis was sent to 9 national salmonella reference laboratories. By using a harmonised protocol, the PFGE profiles produced were comparable between each centre. In most cases, there was at least 90% similarity between isolates tested in the different European laboratories and there was usually >95% similarity. This suggests that PFGE analyses are reproducible and therefore can be used as a valuable investigation tool combined with epidemiological data.

This study investigates the distribution of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles within Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis phage type (PT) 4 and S. Typhimurium definitive phage type (DT) 104, from cases of human infection in nine European countries from 2000 to 2004. Isolates were subtyped using standardized methods and gel images submitted by each participating country to the coordinating centre (Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, UK), where they were entered into a central database, developed within BioNumerics software, and designated using an agreed nomenclature. S. Enteritidis PT4 (n=3637) was differentiated into 38 different profiles. Simpson's index of diversity (D) of profiles ranged from 0·2 to 0·4. Profile SENTXB.0001 represented at least 80% of all profiles in each country. S. Typhimurium DT104 (n=1202) was differentiated into 28 different profile types. Simpson's D was at least 0·6 in all countries except in Austria and Italy. In both these countries over 74% of S. Typhimurium DT104 profiles were STYMXB.0013. Profile STYMXB.0061, was predominant in Denmark, Spain, Finland and England & Wales where it represented between 36% and 45% of profiles. Profile STYMXB.0001 represented nearly half of all profiles in Scotland and 23% in England & Wales. PFGE is proving useful for further discrimination within S. Enteritidis PT4 and S. Typhimurium DT104. Ascertainment of international outbreaks involving common serotypes and phage types may be increased by the timely pooling of PFGE profiles within a central database readily accessible to all participating countries.

Variable-number tandem repeats (VNTRs) may evolve so rapidly that multiple profiles emerge during an outbreak. A total of 190 isolates from eight Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium outbreaks and 15 isolates from seven patients were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and VNTR typing. Small changes in loci were noted; otherwise, the VNTR profiles were stable during the course of the outbreaks.

Rapid and accurate differentiation of Salmonella spp. causing enteric fever from nontyphoidal Salmonella is essential for clinical management of cases, laboratory risk management, and implementation of public health measures. Current methods used for confirmation of identification, including biochemistry and serotyping as well as whole-genome sequencing analyses, take several days. Here we report the development and evaluation of a real-time PCR assay that can be performed directly on crude DNA extracts from bacterial colonies for the rapid identification of typhoidal and nontyphoidal Salmonella.

We present the first documented human case of Salmonella enterica serovar Apapa infection, isolated concurrently from a hospital inpatient and a pet lizard. The isolates were identical by biochemical profiling and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. This rare serotype is known to be associated with reptiles. The current practice for avoiding reptile-associated infections is reviewed.