The Salmonella Serovar Wiki provides relevant information on different Salmonella serovars, including information on
- likely sources where a given serovar is commonly found;
- the geographic distribution of a given serovar;
- previous outbreaks linked to a given serovar;
- association of a given serovar with human illnesses; and
- genomic features of a given serovar.
Key Benefits for Public Health Workers
Understanding the different Salmonella serovars: The Salmonella Serovar Wiki provides information on ecological associations for different serovars, including their common animal reservoirs, geographic distribution, and genetic characteristics. The Wiki also provides information on past outbreaks and food recalls related to each serovar.
Practical Overview: Learn about the biology, outbreaks and food recalls associated with different Salmonella serovars.
This tool can help collaborative teams of epidemiologists and environmental health professionals as well as individuals of each specialization. The Salmonella Serovar Wiki can help epidemiologists (i) generate hypotheses on potential sources, including the geographical origin of isolates, of new outbreaks, and (ii) include specific questions that may not otherwise be included in a standard Salmonella questionnaire.
In addition, environmental health professionals can utilize information in the Salmonella Serovar Wiki to (i) identify key targets for sample collection (e.g., animal/environmental reservoirs, food products) that are most commonly associated with a given the serovar of interest, and (ii) incorporate specific questions to be applied to workers in investigation settings.
For Example: A new Salmonella outbreak is identified and raw milk from farm X is identified as the most likely source. Environmental health workers prepare to go to farm X to collect samples to be tested by the lab. However, where and what should they be sampling? It depends.
- If the outbreak is linked to Salmonella serovar Newport, sampling feces from adult cows without symptoms makes sense.
- However, if the outbreak is linked to Salmonella serovar Dublin, identifying calves with respiratory signs, and collecting samples from the nostrils of calves is recommended.
- Yet, if the outbreak is linked to Salmonella serovar Enteritidis, investigators may want to evaluate whether any chicken/egg production practices are carried out on farm X, or on adjacent farms proximal to farm X.
Although the Salmonella Serovar Wiki is not designed as a step-by-step guideline to environmental sampling, it can be used in combination with other evidence (e.g., interview results) to help in selecting samples most likely to come back positive for the Salmonella serovar under investigation.
The Wiki is being continuously updated with more information and more serovars, so bookmark the page and return often for new information!
