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Created by
user-2cb76, last updated by Brad Yang on May 12, 2025
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Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Oranienburg (antigenic formula 6,7,14:m,t:[z57]) is a serovar of the O:7 (C1) serogroup. S. Oranienburg ranks 13th among human salmonellosis cases in the U.S. This serovar has been isolated from multiple sources (domesticated animals, wild animals, and soil). One outbreak in dairy calves was reported in Michigan, the outbreak strains showed resistance to ciprofloxacin and cephalotin. In Argentina, an strain encoding extended-spectrum β-lactamases was reported in a pediatric hospital.
In these regions, it ranks among the most common 15th Salmonella serovars.
NCBI PD link for serovar Oranienburg: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pathogens/isolates/#(taxgroup_name:%22Salmonella%20enterica%22)%20AND%20computed_types:(%22serotype=Oranienburg%22)
Animal reservoir: Animal reservoirs for S. Oranienburg include bovine, equine, porcine, chicken, canine, and wild animals.
Geographical distribution: Serovar Oranienburg is commonly found in North and Latin America.
Human outbreaks: Multiple human outbreaks linked to serovar Oranienburg have been reported. They were associated with a variety of food. Below are examples.
Year | Location | Associated source | Number of cases |
| 2023 | Canada and US: multistate | Cantaloupe1 | 509 |
| 2021 | US: multistate and Puerto Rico | Onions | 1040 |
| 2016 | US: multistate | Shell eggs | 8 |
2006 | Canada and US: multistate | 41 | |
2005 | Australia | 125 | |
2001 | Europe: multi-country | 439 | |
1999 | Japan | 1560 | |
1998 | Canada | 22 | |
1998 | Australia | 102 | |
1981-1982 | Norway | 126 |
1 There were 407, 190 cases reported in US and Canada, respectively. Salmonella Soahanina, Sundsvall, Oranienburg, and Newport were involved.
2 While the total case number was not reported, 439 confirmed cases were documented in Germany.
Border rejections: Multiple border rejections linked to serovar Oranienburg have been reported. The majority of them were linked to black pepper imported from Brazil to Germany. Below are examples.
Year | Exporting country | Importing country | Associated source | Product category |
| 2022 | Brazil | Germany | Black pepper | Herbs and spices |
| 2021 | Brazil | Germany | Black pepper1 | Herbs and spices |
| 2020 | US | Greece | Fish meal | Feed materials |
| 2020 | Brazil | Germany | Black pepper2 | Herbs and spices |
1 Salmonella Oranienburg and Javiana were found.
2 Salmonella Morehead and Oranienburg were found.
Recalls: Multiple recalls linked to serovar Oranienburg have been reported. Below are some examples.
| Year | Location | Recalled product | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Finland | Eggs1 | Eggs and egg products |
| 2023 | Canada, US: multistate | Cantaloupe2 | Fruits and vegetables |
| 2021 | US: multistate | Whole, fresh onions3 | Fruits and vegetables |
| 2001 | Germany | Chocolate4 | Confectionery |
1 Root cause analysis identified possible cross-contamination from a positive Salmonella sample as the source of error.
2 This recall was caused by a national outbreak described above. Whole melons from Crown Jewels Produce were recalled.
3 This recall was caused by a multistate outbreak described above. ProSource Produce, LLC and Keeler Family Farms of Deming issued recalls.
4 This recall was caused by an international outbreak described above.
Relevant links:
- https://marlerclark.com/salmonella-cantaloupe-outbreak-hits-43-in-15-states
- https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-oranienburg-whole-fresh-onions-october-2021
- https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/salmonella/oranienburg-10-16/index.html
- https://www.cdc.gov/mmWR/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5639a3.htm
- https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3002f.htm
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/6934802_Outbreak_of_Salmonella_oranienburg_infection_in_Japan
- https://web.archive.org/web/20090710153211/https://www.fda.gov/Food/ScienceResearch/ResearchAreas/SafePracticesforFoodProcesses/ucm091270.htm
- https://www1.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/cda-pubs-cdi-1998-cdi2208-cdi2208d.htm
- https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/524928
- https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/524019
- https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/418605
- https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/416416
- https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2024/07/lab-error-behind-false-salmonella-finding-in-finland/
- https://www.marlerblog.com/case-news/more-cantaloupe-recalled-due-to-salmonella-oranienburg-and-sundsvall-outbreak/
- https://www.fda.gov/safety/major-product-recalls/2021-recalls-food-products-associated-onions-prosource-produce-llc-and-keeler-family-farms-due
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC552305/
- http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186%2F1471-2334-5-7
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16850895
- http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5639a3.htm
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23425126
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20464138
- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20939741
- http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm523017.htm
- https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13174