Hong Kong Med J 2011;17(Suppl 2):S18-20
Rapid molecular methods for epidemiological investigation of food- borne outbreaks
JML Ling
Department of Microbiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
1. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to type more than 1000 strains of salmonellae belonging to the major serotypes isolated in Hong Kong. Some strains of S enteritidis probably belonged to a few clusters, whereas almost all strains of the other serotypes tested were different and due to sporadic spread. ERIC and BOX typing may be used as quick alternatives to PFGE in discriminating strains.
2. A total of 128 strains of Shigella flexneri and S sonnei were typed by PFGE, ERIC and BOX typing. All except 22 strains of S sonnei belonged to a heterogeneous population.
2. A total of 128 strains of Shigella flexneri and S sonnei were typed by PFGE, ERIC and BOX typing. All except 22 strains of S sonnei belonged to a heterogeneous population.