Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agama (antigenic formula 4,12:i:1,6) is a serovar of the O:4 (B) serogroup. In 1956, serovar Agama was identified as a new serotype of Salmonella enterica, isolated from the feces of the agama lizard (Agama agama) in Nigeria. The first travel-related case of salmonellosis caused by serovar Agama involved a tourist who had visited Gabon in Central Africa. Serovar Agama has been reported to cause neonatal meningitis and septicaemia. 

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

Genetic characteristics: In a Nigerian study, serovar Agama isolated from poultry farms exhibited resistance to ampicillin, cefotaxime and ceftazidime.

Animal reservoir: Serovar agama was found in lizards, chicken, cattle, badgers, and pigs.

Geographical distribution: Serovar agama has been reported in the US, Nigeria, and Europe such as the UK, and France.

Human outbreaks: There have been no recent human outbreaks linked to this serovar.

Border rejections:

Year

Exporting country

Importing country

Associated source

Product category

2019Nigeria

Germany

Sesame seeds

Nuts, nut products and seeds

Recalls: There have been no recent recalls linked to this serovar.

Relevant links:

  1. https://www.nature.com/articles/179164b0
  2. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2738453/
  3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26255922/
  4. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6556926/
  5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16311384/
  6. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0007193517339969
  7. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/portal/index.cfm?event=notificationDetail&NOTIF_REFERENCE=2019.0632