Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Salmonella Typhimurium variant 5-isolates associated with an outbreak of food-borne disease in Paz de Rio, Boyaca, Colombia, in 2010/Caracterizacion fenotipica y genotipica de Salmonella Typhimurium variante 5- asociada a un brote de enfermedad transmitida por alimentos en el municipio de Paz de Rio, Boyaca, 2010

Introduction: Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium variant 5- is a pathogen closely related to animals, especially pigeons, which has been also associated in rare cases with sporadic infections in humans. However, epidemiological surveillance systems have enabled the detection of this variant in human outbreaks. Objective: To characterize by means of phenotypic and genotypic techniques the isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium variant 5- associated with an outbreak of food-borne disease in Paz de Rio, Boyaca, Colombia (2010), in order to establish their molecular relationships. Materials and methods: Twelve isolates of Salmonella spp., were analyzed by biochemical, serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) with Xba1 and BIn1 enzymes was used to establish their molecular relationships. Results: All isolates were confirmed as Salmonella spp. They were resistant to tetracycline and streptomycin and sensitive to the rest of antibiotics tested. Eleven isolates were identified as Salmonella Typhimurium variant 5- and grouped in COIN 10.JPX.X01.0168 pattern using the enzyme Xbal, two isolates in this group were confirmed using the enzyme Bln1 with the COIN 10. JPX.A26.0002 pattern. One isolate was identified as Salmonella Typhimurium with COIN 10.JPX.X01.0221 pattern with the enzyme Xbal. Conclusion: This is the first outbreak in Colombia of foodborne illness epidemiologicaliy associated with isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium variant 5-, which were phenotypically and genetically related. KEYWORDS Epidemiologic Surveillance; Foodborne Diseases; Salmonella Typhimurium; Serotyping; Salmonella Infections Introduccion: Salmonella enterica serotipo Typhimurium variante 5- es un patogeno muy relacionado con animales, especialmente con palomas, y asociado en pocos casos con infecciones esporadicas en humanos. Sin embargo, los sistemas de vigilancia epidemiologica han permitido detectarla en brotes en humanos. Objetivo: caracterizar por tecnicas fenotipicas y genotipicas los aislamientos de Salmonella Typhimurium variante 5- asociados a un brote de enfermedad transmitida por alimentos (ETA) en el municipio de Paz de Rio. Boyaca. en el 2010. Materiales y metodos: doce aislamientos de Salmonella spp., fueron remitidos para confirmacion bioquimica, identificacion del serotipo y perfil de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana. Se analizaron genotipicamente por electroforesis en gel de campo pulsado (PFGE) con las enzimas Xbaly Bln1.