2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): To conduct susceptibility testing, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), additional characterizations as necessary, data analysis, and database maintenance on FSIS compliance and baseline study Salmonella isolates for inclusion in the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) and USDA VetNet Programs. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Bacteria will be cloned and a single clonotype will be tested for resistance to a custom made panel of antimicrobials important in human and veterinary medicine using the semi automated broth microdilution sensititre system. The isolate will be maintained frozen at -80C and lyophilized. The isolate will also be subjected to pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using a single or double enzyme digestion. Additional enzyme digestions will be done upon request or if the isolate is identified as part of a human food borne outbreak. 3.Progress Report: This project is related to a portion of objective 1 of this in-house project: To elucidate and provide descriptive data, such as prevalence and/or trends, including antimicrobial susceptibilities, and molecular subtyping for food borne pathogens in food animals through the animal sampling arm of the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System - Enteric Bacteria (NARMS) program. It is also related to objective 2 of this in-house project: Be a national resource of enteric bacterial isolates and resistance data for food animals from NARMS and US-VetNet. In 2012 susceptibility testing was conducted by an ARS scientist on Salmonella, E. coli, Enterococci, and Campylobacter isolates which originated from federally inspected slaughter and processing plants. A custom-made panel of antimicrobials which are important in veterinary and human medicine was used in conjunction with the broth micro-dilution Sensititre system. An annual National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS) report will be generated and posted to the website (http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=6750). In addition, an executive report which combines data from all three arms of NARMS will also be posted at the same website. All Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates are being subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) testing as part of USDA VetNet. Additional isolates from USDA-FSIS special projects are also being analyzed upon request. These efforts also support subordinate CRIS 6612-32000-01R FDA.