Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Gaminara (antigenic formula 16:d:1,7) is a serovar of the O:16 (I) serogroup. This serovar can cause osteomyelitis and septic arthritis in infants. 

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

Genetic characteristics: Serovar Gaminara has been found to be paraphyletic. A non-Gaminara serovar, S. Welikade, clusters within serovar Gaminara. In the case of an infant infected with serovar Gaminara following exposure to a bearded dragon, the isolate was found to be susceptible to ampicillin, cefotaxime, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. Treatment was initiated with parenteral ceftriaxone.

Animal reservoir: Serovar Gaminara was found in chicken and bearded dragons.

Geographical distribution: Serovar Gaminara has been mainly found in the US and European countries such as the UK.

Human outbreaks: 

YearLocationAssociated sourceNumber of cases
2017US: multistateMaradol papayas2201
1995US: FLUnpasteurized orange juice622

1 A total of 220 people infected with the outbreak strains of Salmonella Thompson (144), Salmonella Kiambu (54), Salmonella Agona (12), Salmonella Gaminara (7), and Salmonella Senftenberg (3) were reported from 23 states. 

2 Salmonella Hartford and Gaminara were both associated with the outbreak. 

Border rejections: Multiple border rejections associated with serovar Gaminara have been reported and serovar Gaminara were found only in black pepper from Brazil. Here are some examples.

Year

Exporting country

Importing country

Associated source

Product category

2021BrazilGermanyBlack pepper1Herbs and spices
2021BrazilGermanyBlack pepper2Herbs and spices
2021BrazilGermanyBlack pepper3Herbs and spices

1 Salmonella Gaminara, Matadi and Poona were found. 

2 Salmonella Gaminara, Saintpaul, and Javiana were found.

3 Salmonella Gaminara, Minnesota, and Newport were found.

Recalls:

YearLocationRecalled foodType
2020USFlax seed produces1Nuts, nut products and seeds

1 FDA found Salmonella Gaminara, Kentucky, and Oranienburg serovars in product samples. Salud Natural Entrepreneur, Inc issued the recall. 

Relevant links:

  1. https://journals.lww.com/infectdis/fulltext/2007/09000/salmonella_gaminara_osteomyelitis_and_septic.13.aspx
  2. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1547190/full
  3. https://archive.cdc.gov/#/details?url=https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/kiambu-07-17/index.html
  4. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/188128
  5. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/469498
  6. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/466524
  7. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/464612
  8. https://listserv.state.nv.us/scripts/wa.exe?A2=ind2001&L=FOODSAFEPARTNER&D=0&H=A&P=937
  9. https://journals.lww.com/infectdis/fulltext/2007/09000/salmonella_gaminara_osteomyelitis_and_septic.13.aspx
  10. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2022.01.31.22270114v2.full