Abstract
BackgroundEnterobacter sakazakii is an emergent pathogen that has been associated with neonatal infections through contaminated powdered infant milk formula. The species was defined by Farmer et al. (1980) who described 15 biogroups according to the biochemical characterization of 57 strains. This present study compares genotypes (DNA cluster groups based on partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis) with the biochemical traits for 189 E. sakazakii strains.ResultsAnalysis of partial 16S rDNA sequences gave 4 well defined phylogenetic groups. Cluster group 1 was composed of the majority of strains (170/189) and included Biogroups 1–5, 7–9, 11, 13 and 14. Cluster 3 corresponded with Biogroup 15 and cluster 4 with Biogroups 6, 10 and 12. Cluster group 2 comprised a new Biogroup 16. For the isolates in this study, the four DNA cluster groups can be distinguished using the inositol, dulcitol and indole tests.ConclusionThis study demonstrates an agreement between genotyping (partial 16S rDNA) and biotyping and describes a new biogroup of E. sakazakii.
Highlights
Enterobacter sakazakii is an emergent pathogen that has been associated with neonatal infections through contaminated powdered infant milk formula
Enterobacter sakazakii is an emergent pathogen that is associated with neonatal infection [1,2]
Most reported outbreaks have occurred in neonatal intensive care units and some have been linked to the ingestion of contaminated powdered infant milk formula [3,4]
Summary
Enterobacter sakazakii is an emergent pathogen that has been associated with neonatal infections through contaminated powdered infant milk formula. The species was defined by Farmer et al (1980) who described 15 biogroups according to the biochemical characterization of 57 strains This present study compares genotypes (DNA cluster groups based on partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis) with the biochemical traits for 189 E. sakazakii strains. Hoffmann and Roggenkamp [9] used hsp (groEL homologue) DNA sequence variation to investigate E. cloacae polyphyletic groups. It has been shown by both partial 16S rDNA and hsp gene sequencing that isolates identified as E. sakazakii using commercial identification kits form at least four distinct clusters [10]. An Artificial Neural Network has been published which identified key bio-
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