Background Salmonella enterica subsp. Enterica serovar enteritidis is one of the major endemic causes of gastroenteritis worldwide. The objective of this study was to molecular analysis of Salmonella enteritidis (SE) isolates from children stools and food sources.

Methods During 6 months (2010), 1950 stool samples of children younger than 12 years in Tehran were collected. At the same time sampling from different food sources including chicken, beef, lamb and duck also, were done. The culture and susceptibility testing performed according to the standard methods. We also used rep-PCR with (GTG)₅ primers to study genetic relatedness of SE isolates from two sample sources.

Results A total of 30 SE isolates (15 of clinical and 15 of food samples) were identified. There were 14 different antibiotypes (AB) among stool and food sample isolates. AB1 (30%) and AB2 (24%) was the most prevalent antibiotic resistance patterns. The (GTG)₅-PCR banding pattern analysis reviled 3 different common types (CT1, CT2, CT3) and only one single type. CT1 and CT2 were shared between food and stool samples and CT2 was predominant clone. CT3 was limited only to the clinical samples.

Conclusion Antibiotic resistance of SE isolates from clinical and food sources did not differ significantly except for nitrofurantion and nalidixic acid. Food sources isolates were more susceptible than clinical ones. Using rep-PCR with (GTG)₅ primers, showed that some clones of SE are responsible for salmonellosis between human and food sources in Tehran and is of major public health concern.