Emergence and spread of an atypical Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype 4,5,12 :i : Strain in Spain

• Published in: Journal of clinical microbiology 1999-10, Vol.37 (10), p.3425-3425
• Main Authors: ECHEITA, M. A, ALADUENA, A, CRUCHAGA, S, USERA, M. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Epidemiology; Fast-Track Communications; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Microbiology; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Salmonella enterica; Salmonella enterica - classification; Serotyping; Spain
• ISSN: 0095-1137; 1098-660X
• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.37.10.3425-3425.1999

Salmonella sp: serotyping is a very useful epidemiological tool to detect outbreaks in the developed world. The Spanish National Salmonella Reference Laboratory routinely serotypes Salmonella sp. strains from most Spanish Autonomous Communities (AACC) for epidemiological surveillance. In August of 1997 an atypical Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype 4,5,12:i:- strain was detected. This strain either could be a monophasic strain of serotype Typhimurium (4,5,12:i:1,2) or serotype Lagos (4,5,12:i:1,5) or could represent a new serotype. The incidence of this serotype rapidly increased, and this serotype became the fourth most frequently encountered Salmonella sp. serotype in Spain during the second semester of 1997 (2.2% annual incidence). The aim of this study was to establish the incidence and possible origin of this serotype and to provide further characterization. This report documents the first isolation of this strain with the multidrug resistance pattern described above. The resistance to gentamicin, a very active antimicrobial against most Salmonella spp., is interesting. It can be concluded that an atypical, gentamicin-resistant Salmonella serotype 4,5,12:i:-strain has emerged and spread to humans in Spain, probably with contaminated pork as the source.