Salmonella Enteritidis

Background: serovar Enteritidis is the most common serovar in the United States and the European Union. This serovar belongs to the serogroup O:9 (D₁), its antigenic formula is 1,9,12 g,m. Typically associated with table eggs and chickens, serovar Enteritidis has caused multiple outbreaks associated with the consumption of contaminated eggs. S. Enteritidis can successfully contaminate eggs because it is adapted to the reproductive organ of laying hens. This serovar is further classified according to the susceptibility to typing phages (phage typing (PT)), the most common PT are PT8 and PT4. Molecular subtyping with Pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) shows that approx. 40% of the isolates fall in the same PFGE type.

Animal reservoir: mainly chickens and in low percentage (<1%) turkey and cattle. 

Geographical distribution: the distribution of serovar Enteritidis is global; according to the World Health Organization, this serovar is the most common serovar reported from human salmonellosis cases in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia.  

Outbreaks: hundreds of outbreaks have been associated with serovar Enteritidis globally. Here we mention the latest outbreaks caused by this serovar.