Plasmid profiles as an epidemiological marker for Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis foodborne outbreaks.

The incidence of enteritidis serotype of Salmonella enterica in salmonellae infections has steadily increased in Spain from 27.1% in 1982 up to 63.4% in 1987. Given this high incidence, we have studied the plasmid profiles of Enteritidis isolates to subclassify them. Different profiles were observed in 50 isolates. In 13 Enteritidis serotype outbreaks, up to 5 different plasmid profiles were found. Each outbreak correlated with a single plasmid profile except in one case where plasmids of two different profiles were observed in strains from the same outbreak.