The genetically distinct biotype 3 has penetrated Israeli freshwaters and is causing severe illness in persons who handle tilapia or carp.

Among Israeli travelers S. typhi infection is declining whereas S. paratyphi A is increasing, with most cases occurring in vaccinated travelers. Prior typhoid vaccination did not modify the course of the disease. S. paratyphi A infection in travelers is not milder than S. typhi infection. Although this is not a prospective, controlled, randomized trial, it appears that the Ty21a vaccine may be less effective for S. typhi but may offer some protection against S. paratyphi A. Sequential vaccination with the available oral and Vi vaccine may merit consideration. A more effective vaccine for S. typhi and S. paratyphi A is urgently needed.

National surveillance of Legionnaires' disease (LD) is important to inform control measures and facilitate international networking for timely reporting. This study is the first to describe the molecular epidemiology of LD in Israel. Case notifications for 2006-2011, collated through mandatory reporting, were identified and demographic, clinical and laboratory data were extracted. Unrelated clinical and environmental Legionella pneumophila strains were characterized using standard procedures, Dresden panel of monoclonal antibodies and the ESCMID Study Group for Legionella Infections (ESGLI) Sequence-Based Typing scheme. In all, 294 cases were reported (crude incidence 0.67 cases/100 000; age-standardized incidence 1/100 000). LD epidemiological trends and features largely resembled those of the EU, except for a larger proportion of nosocomial cases. Of 28 clinical and 23 environmental strains analysed, 71.4% and 21.7% were serogroup (sg) 1 and the most common immunological subgroup was OLDA/Oxford (64%). Of the clinical strains, OLDA/Oxford, ST1 was the most common (43%) followed by Allentown/France, ST40 (14%). The unusual sg 3 ST338 was found in 17.4% of environmental strains. Novel STs were detected amongst 23.5% of strains. These findings warrant further molecular investigation. Molecular epidemiology data generated from neighbouring countries newly adopting the ESGLI typing scheme for L. pneumophila contribute to understanding of regional strain diversity.

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Enteric fever decreased in Israel in the last 50 years, but its current epidemiology is unknown. In a nationwide study, we evaluated all cases of enteric fever from 1995 to 2003. On hundred thirty-six cases met the case definition. During the period studied, the incidence of enteric fever decreased from 0.42 to 0.23/100,000. A total of 57.4% of the cases were acquired abroad. The incidence of endemic enteric fever was 2.7 times higher in Arabs than in Jews. In Arabs, Salmonella Typhi was the causative agent in all cases, and almost all cases were endemic. In Jews, most cases were imported, with a decrease in imported S. typhi, cases and an increase in imported S. Paratyphi A cases. Salmonella Paratyphi B was endemic, and restricted to the Jewish population. The reasons for the difference in causative agents along ethnic lines need further evaluation. A more efficient vaccine for travelers that includes S. Paratyphi A is needed.