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Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Havana (antigenic formula: 1,13,23:f,g,[s]:- [z₇₉]) is a serovar of the O:13 (G) serogroup. Serovar Havana has been isolated from human clinical isolates, animal feces, sesame products, ground meat, and water sources such as rivers, canals, and ponds. was first identified in 1937 after being isolated from spinal fluid during a meningitis outbreak at a hospital in Havana, Cuba, which led to the deaths of 21 newborns.

NCBI PD link for serovar Havana: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pathogens/isolates/#(taxgroup_name:%22Salmonella%20enterica%22)%20AND%20computed_types:(%22serotype=Havana%22) 

Genetic characteristics: The strain (Havana ST1524) exhibited high virulence in the Galleria mellonella larvae infection model. Additionally, this strain was identified as carrying the mcr-9.1 gene, which, when cloned, confers a significant 16-fold increase in colistin resistance. The outbreak strains originating in pediatric wards of two hospitals in Shiraz, Iran demonstrated high resistance to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, gentamicin, ampicillin, kanamycin, and cephalothin except trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Among them, only 14 (32%) were susceptible to cephalothin, and 6 (14%) to gentamicin, with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 1.6 µg/mL and >3.1 µg/mL, respectively.

Animal reservoir:Serovar Havana has been found in turtlesChicken might be a potential reservoir of serovar Havana. It has also been found in sea lions, cattle, chickenshorses, and swine.

Geographical distribution:Serovar Havana has been reported worldwide but mainly in Europe and the US.

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Border rejections: Multiple border rejections linked to serovar Havana have been reported. Here are some examples:

¹ Heat treatment was further implemented. 

Recalls: Multiple recalls linked to serovar Havana have been reported. Here are some examples:

Relevant links:

1. https://academic.oup.com/jid/article-abstract/68/2/125/899111
2. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0882401024007216
3. https://academic.oup.com/tropej/article-abstract/28/1/14/1661403?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26449943/#:~:text=Isolation%20and%20serotyping%20of%20Salmonella,and%20thereby%20prevent%20human%20infections.
5. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/10/u-s-and-canada-part-of-salmonella-outbreak-linked-to-tahini-and-halva/
6. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2019/11/first-australian-salmonella-havana-outbreak-traced-to-alfalfa-sprouts/
7. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1308574/
8. https://outbreakdatabase.com/outbreaks/georgia-chicken-1987
9. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/485130
10. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/465026
11. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/433870
12. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/750386
13. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/661565
14. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/638769
15. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2021/12/fda-sends-warning-to-food-firms-over-import-violations-and-salmonella-in-retail-sampling/https://academic.oup.com/tropej/article/28/1/14/1661403