Prevalence of serotypes of Salmonella.

The distribution of species and serotypes of Salmonella among 2,498 cultures which were isolated in the United States and its territories is presented. These isolates were received for examination during the 12-month period between October 1, 1966 and September 30, 1967. These and other data obtained from the Salmonella Surveillance Summaries for the past five years indicate that a relatively small number of species and serotypes of Salmonella are regularly isolated from diagnostic specimens. Of approximately 1,300 presently known Salmonella species and serotypes, 33 account for almost 90% of the isolates reported from humans and approximately 80% of the isolates from nonhuman sources. The 50 most prevalent species and serotypes account for 97% of the isolates from humans. An abbreviated antigenic schema based on these 50 species and serotypes of Salmonella, in conjunction with adequate biochemical tests, permits complete bacteriological characterization of the common Salmonella