Abstract

Background and Aim: Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype enteritidis is one of the most frequent serotypes that cause gastroenteritis and bacteremia in human. The aim of the present study was to study the molecular types of Salmonella enteritidis strains isolated from different laboratory centers in Tehran by ERIC-PCR. Materials and methods: In this descriptive study from April 2008 to December 2011, Salmonella isolates were obtained from the patients admitted to several hospitals in Tehran. Salmonella isolates were identified by the standard microbiological methods and were serotyped by slide agglutination with commercial mono and polyvalent antisera. Molecular typing of the strains and their genetic relationship were investigated by using ERIC-PCR. Results: All Salmonella enteritidis strains investigated by ERIC-PCR were type able. This technique produced 6 to 17 amplified DNA bands with 200 to 3200 different bp. In general, ERIC-PCR differentiated all Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis isolates into nine distinct clusters (E1-E9), however the majority of the strains (35) belonged to cluster E1. Conclusion: In this study the most common serotype was Salmonella enteritidis and ERIC-PCR showed that the strains belonged to diverse genotypic clusters.