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An outbreak of Salmonella mikawasima associated with doner kebabs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

M. Synnott ,
D. L. Morse ,
H. Maguire ,
F. Majid ,
M. Plummer ,
M. Leicester ,
E. J. Threlfall  and
J. Cowden
M. Synnott
Affiliation:
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 1 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
D. L. Morse
Affiliation:
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 1 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
H. Maguire
Affiliation:
South West Thames Regional Health Authority, Department of Public Health Sciences, St Georges Hospital Medical School, London SW17 ORE
F. Majid
Affiliation:
PHLS Statistics Unit, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
M. Plummer
Affiliation:
Elmbridge Borough Council, Environmental Health Department, High Street, Esher, Surrey KT10 9SD
M. Leicester
Affiliation:
Mid Surrey/Epsom Health Care Trust District Health Authority, West Park Hospital, Horton Lane, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8PB
E. J. Threlfall
Affiliation:
PHLS Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT
J. Cowden*
Affiliation:
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, 1 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ
*
*Dr J. Cowden, PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre. 61 Colindale Avenue. London NW9 5EQ.
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Summary

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During October 1992 an increase in the number of isolates of Salmonella mikawasima, a rare serotype, was noted including a cluster of nine cases in the South West Thames region. A case control study was conducted and univariate analysis showed a statistical association between illness and eating at takeaway A for cases compared with household controls (P = O003) and with neighbourhood controls (P = 0.0245). Cases were also more likely to have eaten kebabs than were controls or average takeaway A customers, implicating doner kebabs as the most likely vehicle of infection. Plasmid profile analysis of the nine cases' isolates showed them to be indistinguishable and to be characterized by a single plasmid of approximately 60 MDa.

The original source of the Salmonella mikawasima contamination was not determined, but food preparation practices for kebabs at takeaway A were insufficient to protect against illness if contaminated. This outbreak was only recognized because of the unusual serotype, but could be an indication of a more widespread problem with doner kebabs.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 111 , Issue 3 , December 1993 , pp. 473 - 482
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1993

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