Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #258424
Title: Campylobacter Database Update: USDA VetNet (2004-2009)

Author
item Cray, Paula
item Jackson, Charlene
item Pearson-Gresham, Cheryl
item Hall, Mary
item Plumblee Lawrence, Jodie

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/27/2010
Publication Date: 8/30/2010
Citation: Cray, P.J., Jackson, C.R., Pearson Gresham, C., Hall, M.C., Plumblee, J. 2010. Campylobacter Database Update: USDA VetNet (2004-2009). 14th Annual PulseNet Update Meeting, August 30–September 2, 2010, Chicago, Illinois.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: In March 2004, USDA VetNet was launched with the intention of providing Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) on Salmonella isolates originating from animals as a complement to the CDC PulseNet program. The objectives of USDA VetNet are to determine PFGE patterns of Salmonella and Campylobacter isolates submitted to the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System (NARMS)-Animal Arm, to compare USDA VetNet and PulseNet PFGE patterns, and to use the comparative data for surveillance and assistance with food-borne illness outbreaks as well as carriage/disease within animals. PFGE analysis initially focused on Salmonella isolates submitted through the animal arm of NARMS. In December 2005, PFGE analysis for Campylobacter isolates was added to the program. Isolates for the Campylobacter database originate from culture of spent broiler carcass rinsate collected at federally inspected slaughter and processing broiler plants as part of the FSIS compliance testing. All methodology related to PFGE are comparable to those used for PulseNet to ensure harmonization between programs. Isolates were restricted with a single enzyme, SmaI, and resulting data were analyzed with Bionumerics. The Campylobacter database currently has 3,043 isolates with named VetNet patterns, 1,356 of which are unique. Campylobacter coli account for 948 (31%) of the isolates and 465 (34%) of the unique PFGE patterns. The majority of the isolates, 2,095(69%), are C. jejuni and represent 891 (66%) of the unique PFGE patterns. The most common pattern for C. coli (52 isolates, 5.5%) is DBBS16.0003 ARS while patterns DBRS16.0036 ARS and DBRS16.0108 ARS appear most often for C. jejuni (30 isolates each, <2%). In the future and where available, VetNet patterns matching PulseNet patterns will be noted. Future plans include expansion of laboratories submitting data to VetNet as well as posting of reports on the web.