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Food Microbiology

Salmonella
Salmonella

Because Salmonella infections are so common, Salmonella testing can take up the majority of foodborne testing resources in some states. 

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Some Salmonella serotypes and strains appear more frequently in certain regions of the country.  In order for public health officials to identify outbreaks, scientists must be able to differentiate common endemic circulating strains from abnormal strains that may be associated with outbreaks.

Every year, approximately 40,000 cases of salmonellosis are reported in the United States.

Mead, PS, Slutsker L, Dietz, V, McCraig, LF, Bresee, SS, Shapiro, C, et al. (1999)
Food Related Illness & Death in the United States.  Emerging Infectious Diseases, 5, 607-625

To address this issue, APHL is assisting state public health laboratories and CDC in their efforts to prioritize Salmonella subtyping. 

APHL has supported CDC in efforts to rule out new molecular subtyping methodologies for Salmonella detection by providing training courses and promoting validation studies for new molecular protocols.

The association also has provided critical information to laboratories during recent Salmonella outbreaks associated with peanut butter, tomatoes, Veggie Booty and chicken pot pies.

As Salmonella typhi (the causative agent of typhoid fever) becomes an even higher global priority, APHL is involved with the development of a Salmonella typhi molecular subtyping database that will expand the role of state and local public health laboratories in international foodborne disease detection.