Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Senftenberg (antigenic formula: 1,3,19:g,[s],t:-) is a serovar of the O:1,3,19 (E4) serogroup. While S. Senfenberg is a rare serovar in human cases (only 7 cases in 10 years in the US), it has been linked with several outbreaks. This serovar is though, very common in animals and food. In the US S. Senftenberg is among the top 5 serovars isolated from food, and among the top 11 serovars isolated from clinical animals. Among source of outbreaks are contaminated basil and alfalfa sprouts.

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

Genetic characteristics: Salmonella Senftenberg is a polyphyletic serovar, consisting of two lineages and two singleton isolates that do not cluster with any other Salmonella Senftenberg isolates. Although antimicrobial resistance is not widespread in Salmonella Senftenberg, an extended-spectrum, ß-lactamase strain was linked to infections of patients in a hospital in India. Multidrug resistant (MDR) isolates have also been isolated from production animals in the USA (resistant to multiple drugs, including extended-spectrum cephalosporin). Carriage of the pESI-like megaplasmid, which is associated with Salmonella Infantis, has been linked to these MDR isolates. It has been suggested that Salmonella Seftenberg isolates may be more heat-resistant when compared to other Salmonella serovars.

Animal reservoir: Turkey and swine are potential reservoirs of Salmonella Senftenberg, but this serovar has also been found in other animals, such as chicken and cattle.

Geographical distribution: This serovar is widely distributed, and it has been isolated from all inhabited continents.

Human outbreaks:

Year

Location

Associated source

Number of cases

2022-2023EU: multi-country, USTomatoes92
2022US: multistatePeanut butter21
2016US: multistatePistachios2

2007-2008

Serbia

Fennel seed tea

14

2007

EU

Basil

55

Border rejections:

YearExporting countryImporting countryAssociated sourceProduct category
2025PolandCzech RepublicHahenchen kebabPoultry meat and poultry meat products
2024UkraineGermanyOrganic sunflower seed cakesFeed materials
2020GambiaUnited KingdomFish mawsFish and fish products
2023IndiaGermanySesame seedsNuts, nut products and seeds

Recalls: 

Year

Location

Recalled food

Type

2022US: multistate1Peanut butterPeanut butter

1 The recall was caused by a multistate outbreak described above.

Relevant links:

  1. http://www.fda.gov/Food/RecallsOutbreaksEmergencies/Outbreaks/ucm386377.htm
  2. https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/salmonella/montevideo-03-16/key-resources.html
  3. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18622860
  4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18851676
  5. http://analytics.foodtrack.net/cgi-bin/read?rid=MjAxOTAyMjExMzQ0Rk9PRFRSQ0tCVUxMRVRTXzAyMjExOUw0MjY=&style=html&source=email
  6. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/604602
  7. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/outbreaks/senftenberg-05-22/index.html
  8. https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/92-salmonella-senftenberg-cases-reported-11-eueea-countries
  9. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/604812
  10. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/416870
  11. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/462214
  12. https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/rasff-window/screen/notification/770984
  13. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670198903073?via%3Dihub
  14. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0299354
  15. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0740002022001368?via%3Dihub
  16. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1547190/full
  17. https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-peanut-butter-may-2022
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