Phage Typing of Salmonella typhimurium: its Place in Epidemiological and Epizootiological Investigations

Abstract

Summary: Two series of adapted phages were compared: the first consisted of phage preparations belonging to three different antigenic groups, the second series was antigenically homogeneous. The two typing schemes based on these phage preparations yielded entirely different groupings of the Salmonella typhimurium strains examined. Nevertheless, by each of the schemes it was possible to identify those strains which were related epidemiologically. These findings are compared with those obtained with Lilleengen’s series of selected anti-O phages, which are employed in Sweden. The place of phage typing in epidemiological and epizootiological investigations is discussed. It is concluded that it is unnecessary to attempt international standardization of the phage typing of S. typhimurium or of any other Salmonella species which cause food poisoning in man.