Analysis of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica Serovar Enteritidis Strains Isolated from Chickens and Chicken Meat by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis and Phage Typing

The aim of this study was to analyse S. Enteritidis strains isolated from chickens and chicken meat by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and phage typing. A total of 38 S. Enteritidis strains were analysed by PFGE after digestion of DNA with Xbal restriction enzyme. Seven different PFGE profiles were observed. A predominant type (X1) was found in 27 (71 %) of 38 S. Enteritidis strains. For all the strains, the genetic similarity was 85 %. The most common phage type was PT4, which was found in 15 (39.4 %) of the strains. Other phage types were PT7 (18.4 %), PT16 (13.1 %), PT1(10.5 %), PT6 (7.8 %) and PT35 (2.6 %). Three strains were RDNC (reacted but did not conform). Different phage types such as PT1, 4, 6 and 7 belonged to the same PFGE pattern (X1). The results of this study shows that S. Enteritidis strains originated from chickens in Turkey are genetically related. Further studies should be performed to determine genetic relationships among animal and human isolates.