Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Paratyphi B (antigenic formula 1,4,[5],12:b:1,2) is a serovar of the O:4 (B) serogroup. Serovar Paratyphi B can be classified by its ability to ferment tartrate. Serovar Paratyphi B (tartrate negative) is associated with paratyphoid fever and infections with this serovar are not common in the US. Serovar Paratyphi B (tartrate positive), formerly serovar Java, is associated with gastroenteritis and can also be written as serovar Paratyphi B var. L(+) tartrate+. 

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

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

Genetic Characteristics: Serovar Paratyphi B has been found to be polyphyletic with four phylogenetic groups identified. 

Animal reservoir: Serovar Paratyphi B is almost exclusively host restricted to humans and closely related anthropoids. Serovar Paratyphi B var. Java has been found in dogs. 

Geographical distribution: Serovar Paratyphi B has been found worldwide.

Outbreaks: Several outbreaks have been associated with S. Paratyphi B.

YearLocationAssociated SourceNumber of Cases
2015US: MultistateSprouted nut butter spread13
2015US: MultistateFrozen raw tuna65
2012US: MultistateTempeh63
1999CanadaAlfalfa sprouts51
1986UKFood Handler3

Border Rejections: 

Year

Exporting country

Importing country

Associated source

Product category

2024GermanyItalyFrozen chicken legsPoultry meat and poultry meat products
2023NetherlandsItalyFrozen chicken mincePoultry meat and poultry meat products
2021NetherlandsItalyChicken drumsticksPoultry meat and poultry meat products

Recalls: 

YearLocationRecalled foodType
2015 US: MultistateSprouted nut butter spreadOther food product
2012US: MultistateTempehOther food product

Relevant links:

  1. https://ndc.services.cdc.gov/case-definitions/salmonella-paratyphi-infection-2019/
  2. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1547190/full
  3. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/salmonella/paratyphi-b-05-15/index.html
  4. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/salmonella/paratyphi-b-12-15/index.html
  5. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/05/rare-salmonella-paratyphi-outbreak-grows-as-investigation-continues/
  6. https://publications.gc.ca/collections/Collection/H12-21-27-16.pdf
  7. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268800030843
  8. https://www.foodsafetynews.com/tag/salmonella-paratyphi-b/
  9. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/salmonella-enterica-serovar-paratyphi-b
  10. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2514109/
  11. https://doi.org/10.1111/zph.13174
  12. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/614380
  13. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/467929
  14. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/salmonella/paratyphi-b-12-15/advice.html