Purpose
The purpose of the study was to increase understanding of why Salmonella
infections in animals and man display so much variation in their epidemiological
patterns. Unlike many of the endemically persistent Salmonella strains,
the recent epidemic of Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 demonstrated clearly
how a new strain can emerge, disseminate widely in a major epidemic before
declining without any obvious intervention. These epidemics have substantial
implications for human and animal health, particularly when they are associated
with multiple antibiotic resistance. An understanding of why these strains
emerge and decline so rapidly could provide the key to predicting the
long-term behaviour of Salmonella infections in livestock and man and
assist in the development of more effective control strategies. |
