Comparison of Salmonella enterica serovar Bovismorbificans 2011 hummus outbreak strains with non-outbreak strains

•Comparing Bovismorbificans outbreak versus non outbreak isolates.•Identification of a plasmid in the outbreak isolates.•Using multiple molecular approaches for characterization of plasmids.

Eleven Salmonella enterica serovar Bovismorbificans isolates obtained from the U.S. District of Columbia during a 2011 hummus-associated foodborne outbreak were compared to 12 non-outbreak isolates. All isolates from the outbreak demonstrated a single PFGE pattern that was distinctly different from other isolates of S. Bovismorbificans as recorded in the PulseNet Database. Results from molecular analyses of the hummus-associated S. Bovismorbificans isolates indicate that the isolates from the outbreak were unique and have acquired an 80-90 kb plasmid. The impact of this study is that the information gained will add and expand our knowledge of diversity of the S. Bovismorbificans serovar.