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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2006, p. 3208-3212, Vol. 44, No. 9
0095-1137/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JCM.01404-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The Key Role of Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis in Investigation of a Large Multiserotype and Multistate Food-Borne Outbreak of Salmonella Infections Centered in Pennsylvania

Molecular Microbiology Section, Bureau of Laboratories, Pennsylvania Department of Health, 110 Pickering Way, Lionville, Pennsylvania 19353,¹ Bureau of Laboratories, Department of Environmental Protection, 2575 Interstate Dr., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17110-9332²

Received 7 July 2006/ Accepted 11 July 2006

Five different serotypes of Salmonella enterica were implicated in a large outbreak linked to fresh Roma tomatoes served at gas station deli counters in Pennsylvania and nearby states during July 2004: S. enterica serotypes Javiana, Anatum, Thompson, Typhimurium, and Muenchen. One of these serotypes, Anatum, was isolated from both tomatoes and patients. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) played a key role in identifying the outbreak-associated isolates and distinguishing them from unrelated sporadic isolates. It also demonstrated that the genetic fingerprints of serotype Anatum isolates derived from patients were indistinguishable from those derived from tomatoes. Rapid communication of PFGE fingerprints with other public health laboratories through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's PulseNet USA national molecular surveillance network for bacterial food-borne pathogens facilitated the tracking of this outbreak in other states. The work described in this report emphasizes the laboratory's role in core public health functions and services, thereby providing a highly visible example of public health in action.

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