Molecular Typing of Salmonella

The study aimed at establishing epidemiological relationships of Salmonella serotypes isolated from selected host species from selected geographical locations in Zimbabwe, using molecular typing techniques. Salmonella isolates previously typed using biochemical and serotyping methods were confirmed by molecular typing using Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The confirmed isolates were further subjected to Plasmid Profiling and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) which split them to strain level. The results were analysed to establish the epidemiological relationships of the strains and their host as well as geographical locations of the hosts. There was no correlation between the pulsotypes or plasmid profiles with the geographical location of the isolate, that is, no relationship could be established of the Salmonella strains to their geographical locations. However there was a link between strain type and source of isolate. There is need, however, to carry out the research at a larger scale to authenticate these findings.