C. Wray et al., THE EPIDEMIOLOGY OF SALMONELLA-TYPHIMURIUM IN CATTLE - PLASMID PROFILE ANALYSIS OF DEFINITIVE PHAGE TYPE (DT) 204C, Journal of Medical Microbiology, 47(6), 1998, pp. 483-487
During the period 1979-1991, Salmonella Typhimurium DT 204c was the ca
use of a major epidemic of salmonellosis in calves in the UK. Plasmid
profile analysis of DT 204c isolates from England and Wales commenced
in 1986 and isolates from all subsequent incidents were examined by th
is technique. Forty-three different plasmid profile types (PPTs) were
detected, of which the commonest, designated type E, constituted 44.6-
80.2% of the annual incidents during the study period. Some PPTs, e.g.
, F and P, were detected throughout most years of the study, whereas P
PTs 0 and 6 persisted for short periods. Until 1984, most isolates wer
e resistant to neomycin, but the subsequent predominant PP type E was
sensitive to this antibacterial agent. It was concluded that during th
e epidemic there was an evolution of new genotypes, of which only some
persisted; again, antibacterial resistance genes may be acquired or l
ost. The study demonstrated the value of PP typing for epidemiological
studies.