martes, 28 de marzo de 2017

Recent Paper on Whole Genome Sequencing and Salmonella Outbreaks

Multistate foodborne outbreaks of Salmonella infections associated with chicken can be challenging to investigate due to high consumption rates of chicken and the large number of brands. After a 2014 outbreak of Salmonella Heidelberg, researchers conducted a follow-up analysis by sequencing the genome on some of the outbreak isolates. The findings provided further evidence that chicken from a particular producer was the source of the outbreak. CDC, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, and state and local health departments published this research in a new article in the Journal of Food Protection. The article highlights how whole genome sequencing can be used with epidemiologic and traceback evidence to more confidently identify chicken sources of foodborne outbreaks.

2017 Mar 15:654-660. doi: 10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-16-364. [Epub ahead of print]

Utility of Combining Whole Genome Sequencing with Traditional Investigational Methods To Solve Foodborne Outbreaks of Salmonella Infections Associated with Chicken: A New Tool for Tackling This Challenging Food Vehicle.

Crowe SJ1, Green A2, Hernandez K3, Peralta V4, Bottichio L1, Defibaugh-Chavez S2, Douris A2, Gieraltowski L1, Hise K1, La-Pham K3, Neil KP1, Simmons M2, Tillman G2, Tolar B1, Wagner D1, Wasilenko J2, Holt K2, Trees E1, Wise ME1.

Author information

Abstract

High consumption rates and a multitude of brands make multistate foodborne outbreaks of Salmonella infections associated with chicken challenging to investigate, but whole genome sequencing is a powerful tool that can be used to assist investigators. Wholegenome sequencing of pathogens isolated from clinical, environmental, and food samples is increasingly being used in multistate foodborne outbreak investigations to determine with unprecedented resolution how closely related these isolates are to one another genetically. In 2014, federal and state health officials investigated an outbreak of 146 Salmonella Heidelberg infections in 24 states. A follow-up analysis was conducted after the conclusion of the investigation in which 27 clinical and 24 food isolates from the outbreak underwent whole genome sequencing. These isolates formed seven clades, the largest of which contained clinical isolates from a subcluster of case patients who attended a catered party. One isolate from a chicken processed by a large producer was closely related genetically (zero to three single-nucleotide polymorphism differences) to the clinical isolates from these subcluster case patients. Chicken from this large producer was also present in the kitchen of the caterer on the day before the event, thus providing additional evidence that the chicken from this producer was the outbreak source. This investigation highlights how whole genomesequencing can be used with epidemiologic and traceback evidence to identify chicken sources of foodborne outbreaks.