The prevalence of virulence sodC1 and sopE1 genes among the clinical serotypes of Salmonella enterica in Tehran, Iran

Aims: There is few data on the occurrence of virulence genes in the endemic strains of Salmonella in Iran. This is why the current study has aimed to investigate the presence and the prevalence of sopE1 and sodC1 genes in Salmonella enterica serotypes isolated in Tehran, Iran. Methods: In this descriptive study carried out from December 2008 to November 2010, 95 clinical samples were collected from different hospitals in Tehran. Bacterial isolation and identification was achieved through biochemical and serological methods. The Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique was used for the detection of sodC1 and sopE1 genes among the Salmonella strains. Results: The frequency of the sodC1 and sopE1 genes were 100% and 95.7% respectively. Serotyping results showed that the most Salmonella isolates belonged to serotypes S. entretidis, S. infantis and S. thyphimurium. Conclusion: For the first time this study reports the presence and prevalence of sopE1 and sodC1 genes in Salmonella enterica strains in Iran. When compared with the other reports from other countries, the frequency of the sopE1 and sodC1 genes in the Salmonella enterica strains isolated from Iran is extremely high.