Salmonella Chester

Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Chester (antigenic formula: 1,4,[5],12:e,h: e,n,x:) is a serovar of the O:4 (B) serogroup. Serovar Chester is a rare serovar worldwide; in the US during 2001-2011, only 403 human cases have been reported. In addition, animal and food surveillance have not found S. Chester in these sources in the US. A recent recall of fish meal feed materials from Morocco was conducted in the EU.

Animal reservoir: There is not clear evidence of the animal reservoir for this serovar.

Geographical distribution: S. Chester have been reported from different regions, including countries in North (US, Canada) and South America (Brazil), Morocco and Australia.

Outbreaks: Despite the fact that this is a rare serovar, four outbreaks have been reported; 2 of them were reported in Australia.

Year	Location	Associated source	Number of cases
2010	Canada	headcheese	33
2010	US-multistate	Frozen meals	44
2005	Australia	Tap water	26
1988	Australia	Turtle meat	36

Border rejections:

Year	Exporting country	Importing country	Associated source	Product category
2023	Spain	France	Frozen chicken drumstick1	Poultry meat and poultry meat products
2023	Turkey	Switzerland	Red Paprika, sweet	Herbs and spices
2021	The United Kingdom	Denmark	Fishmeal pellets for farmed salmon	Feed materials

1 Salmonella Vichow and Salmonella Chester were both found.

Recalls:

Year	Location	Recalled food	Type
2024	Germany	Organic moringa powder from Sri Lanka	Dietetic foods, food supplements and fortified foods

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Salmonella Chester