Distribution trends & antibiogram pattern of Salmonella enterica serovar Newport in India

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Salmonellosis is a major public health concern worldwide. Besides typhoidal salmonellae, infections due to non-typhoidal serovars of Salmonella are also associated with high morbidity and mortality leading to huge economic losses. Among non-typhoidal serovars, Salmonella Newport has been reported as a major cause of foodborne infections resulting in outbreaks due to consumption of contaminated food items. Little data related to this serovar are available from India leading to the scarcity of information on the distribution trends of this important serovar in the country. Therefore, an effort was made in the present study to generate data on distribution trends and antibiogram of S. Newport in the country. METHODS: S. Newport isolates received at the National Salmonella and Escherichia Centre at Kasauli, India, during January 2010 to December 2013 were analysed for their distribution trends and antibiogram data were also generated using standard methods. RESULTS: In the present study, S. Newport isolates were received from eight States and one union territory of the country and highest proportion of S. Newport isolates were found to be from humans (53.61%) followed by animals (27.84%) and food (18.56%). S. Newport isolates exhibited resistance to all drugs used in the present study except chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin and cefuroxime. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSIONS: Considering distribution of this important serovar of Salmonalla and its wide range of reservoirs, steps towards formulation and execution of efficient surveillance programmes should be taken.