Salmonella Enteritidis

Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (antigenic formula 1,9,12:g,m:- ) is a polyphyletic serovar of the O:9 (D₁) serogroup. This serovar is associated with table eggs and chickens. Serovar Enteritidis has caused numerous outbreaks associated with the consumption of contaminated eggs. S. Enteritidis can successfully contaminate eggs because it is adapted to the reproductive organ of laying hens. This serovar is further classified according to the susceptibility to typing phages (phage typing (PT)), the most common PTs are PT8 and PT4. Molecular subtyping with Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) shows that approx. 40% of the isolates fall in the same PFGE type. Invasive strains of S. Enteritidis emerged in sub-Sahara regions of Africa and have caused systemic salmonellosis in travelers returning from Africa.

Serovar S. Nitra shares the same serotype, although it is very rare and is genetically indistinguishable from S. Enteritidis.

Animal reservoir: Chicken is the main reservoir. S. Enteritidis is also found in low percentage (<1%) in turkey, cattle, and dogs.

Geographical distribution: The distribution of serovar Enteritidis is global; according to the World Health Organization, it is the most common serovar reported from human salmonellosis cases in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia.

Outbreaks: Numerous outbreaks have been associated with serovar Enteritidis. Here we mention the latest outbreaks caused by this serovar.

Year	Location	Associated source	Number of cases
2024	US-multistate	Backyard poultry	409^c
2018	US-multistate	Eggs	44
2016	Multi-country^a	Eggs	112^b
2012	US-multistate	Ground beef	46
2012	US-multistate	Restaurant chain A	68
2011	US-multistate	Turkish Pine Nuts	43
2011	US-multistate	Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts	25
2011	England	eggs	63
2011	Singapore	Seafood Marinara Pasta Seafood	270
2010	US-multistate	Shell- eggs	1,939
2010	Austria	eggs	66

^aBelgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK, and potentially Croatia

^b112 confirmed, 148 probable

^c Multiple serovars, including Salmonella Altona, Cerro, Enteritidis, Indiana, Infantis, Johannesburg, Mbandaka, and Typhimurium, were linked to this outbreak. The case number represents the total number of cases associated with the outbreak and does not specifically indicate the number of people infected by Salmonella Enteritidis.

Border Rejections:

Year	Exporting Country	Country Issuing Recall/Rejection	Food
2019	Poland	Czech Republic	Chilled Beef
2019	Sudan	Greece	Sesame Seeds

Recalls:

Relevant links and references:

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Salmonella Enteritidis