Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- is a variant of Salmonella Typhimurium. S. I 4,[5],12:i:- is a monophasic serovar that lacks the second flagellar antigen (i.e., antigen 1,2 in serovar Typhimurium). This serovar emerged as a common serovar after 1990’s. Multiple reports and outbreaks linked to S. 4,5,12:i:- have occurred globally. Multidrug resistant (MDR) and pan-susceptible strains have been reported. MDR strains with the resistant patterns ACKGSuTm and ACSuGSTTm were reported in Thailand and Spain, respectively (abbrev: ampicillin (A), chloramphenicol (C), kanamycin (K), gentamicin (G) sulfamethoxazole (Su), trimethoprim (Tm), tetracycline (T), streptomycin (S)). Two clones with different gene deletions were identified, one in the US and one in Europe.
Animal reservoir: Chicken and swine are the major animal reservoirs of this serovar. It has also been found in dogs.
Geographical distribution: Global distribution, this serovar have been reported among the most common serovars in US, EU, and Thailand.
Outbreaks: Several outbreaks have been associated with serovar I 4,[5],12:i:-.
Year | Location | Associated source | Number of cases |
| 2023 | Canada-multistate | Raw pet food, cattle exposure | 40 |
| 2018 | US-multistate | Kosher Chicken Products | 25 |
2010 | US-multistate | Alfalfa Sprouts | 140 |
2011-2012 | US-multistate | probably live-animal markets | >14 |
2010 | US-multistate | Frozen rodents | 34 |
2010 | France | Dried pork sausage | 69 |
2007 | US-multistate | Pot pie | 272 |
Border rejections: Multiple border rejections associated with serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- have been reported. Here are some examples.
Year | Exporting country | Importing country | Associated source | Product category |
| 2025 | Lithuania | Latvia | Pork meat preparation1 | Meat and meat products (other than poultry) |
| 2024 | Poland | Czech Republic | Minced mixed meat (pork and beef) | Meat and meat products (other than poultry) |
| 2021 | Spain | Italy | Live mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) | Bivalve molluscs and products thereof |
1Monophasic Salmonella spp. (in 1 out of 5 units) Product (presumably) no longer on the market
Recalls: Multiple recalls associated with serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- have been reported. Here are some examples.
| Year | Location | Recalled food | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Denmark | Pork minced meat1 | Meat and meat products (other than poultry) |
| 2022 | Europe: multi-country | Chocolate2 | Confectionery |
| 2021 | France | Turkey meat and offals | Poultry meat and poultry meat products |
| 2021 | France | Chicken meat | Poultry meat and poultry meat products |
1 Recalled product name: Magre 80/20 de cerdo cong
2 This recall was caused by monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to chocolate products (Kinder branded chocolate produced by Ferrero). Several countries including Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, and the UK launched the recall.
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