Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona (antigenic formula 1,4,[5],12:f,g,s:[1,2]) is a serovar of the O:4 (B) serogroup. S. Agona is among the 15th most common serovars in humans the U.S., and the 4th most common serovar in clinical non-human sources. This serovar was first isolated from cattle in Ghana in 1952, since then numerous outbreaks in the U.S. and Europe have occurred. Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST) has identified only four sequence types. Genome sequencing of 73 strains from multiple countries and sources was recently reported by Zhou et al., 2013.  

Animal reservoir: Different animal species, including turkey, swine and cattle are reservoirs of S. Agona.

Geographical distribution: Serovar Agona is among the most common serovars in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. In China, it is among the 10th most common serovars.

Outbreaks: Outbreaks linked to Salmonella Agona have been associated with different foods, including cereal, meat and fruits.

Year

Location

Associated source

Number of cases

2022

Sweden, Norway, Netherlands, & UK

Cucumbers (suspected)

107

2011

US-multistate

Imported Papayas

106

2008

US-multistate

Rice & Wheat Puff Cereal

28

2008

Europe (6 countries)

Meat, cocked sandwich

148

2008

Europe

Meat

119

2004

France

Infant formula

141

2002

Germany

Tea, aniseed herbal

42

1998

US-multistate

Toasted Oats Cereal

209

Border Rejections:

Year

Location

Associated Source

Number of Cases

2023

Germany

Onion powder from Hungary

NA

Relevant genetic characteristics: Whole genome sequences for 74 strains of S. Agona have been deposited at GenBank as of October, 2013. Genomic characteristics of the sequenced S. Agona include (i) a genome size ranging from 4.70 to 4.95 Mb, (ii) a mol G+C% of approx. 52, and (iii) 4,658 to 4,934 predicted genes. Comparative genomics of 73 of the sequenced strains identified three lineages of S. Agona that emerged approx. 80 years ago.  S. Agona has an accessory genome of approx. 1.3 Mb; this accessory genome includes (i) multiple prophages (P2-like, Fels-like, Lambda-like), (ii) antibiotic resistance plasmids (e.g., IncI1 plasmids), (iii) genomic islands, (iv) transposons, and (v) chromosomal integrons.

Phylogenetic and pan-genomic analyses that included one of the sequenced S. Agona strains and other Salmonella serovars concluded that S. Agona belongs to clade A, according to den Bakker et al. (2011) classification and it contains 133 gene families unique to this serovar.  

Genome sequences available:

  1. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. SL483 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=454166&lvl=3&lin=f&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock
  2. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. SH08SF124 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/526088/
  3. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. SH10GFN094 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/526108/
  4. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. SH11G1113 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/526068/
  5. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 73.H.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689058/
  6. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 72.A.52 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689078/
  7. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 71.E.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689098/
  8. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 70.E.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689118/
  9. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 69.H.06 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689138/
  10. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 68.U.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689158/
  11. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 67.H.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689318/
  12.  Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 66.F.99 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689178/
  13. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 65.H.72 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/653108/
  14. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 64.H.00 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689198/
  15. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 63.H.87 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689218/
  16. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 62.H.72 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689238/
  17.  Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 61.O.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689258/
  18. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 60.O.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689278/
  19. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 59.F.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/689298/
  20. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 58.E.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676478/
  21. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 57.A.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677478/
  22. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 56.O.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676498/
  23. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 55.U.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676518/
  24. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 54.O.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676538/
  25. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 53.F.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676558/
  26. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 52.F.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676578/
  27. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 51.E.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676598/
  28. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 50.E.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676618/
  29. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 49.E.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677498/
  30. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 48.E.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676638/
  31. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 46.E.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676658/
  32. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 45.E.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676678/
  33. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 44.E.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676698/
  34. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 43.E.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676718/
  35. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 42.E.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676738/
  36. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 41.E.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676778/
  37. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 40.E.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676758/
  38. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 39.O.03 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677518/
  39. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 38.O.03 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676798/
  40. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 37.F.02 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676818/
  41. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 36.H.00 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676838/
  42. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 35.H.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676858/
  43. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 34.H.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676878/
  44. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 33.A.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676898/
  45. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 31.A.00 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676918/
  46. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 31.H.09 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676938/
  47. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 30.H.04 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677538/
  48. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 29.O.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676958/
  49. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 28.O.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676978/
  50. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 27.O.98 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/676998/
  51. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 26.F.98 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677558/
  52. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 24.H.04 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677018/
  53. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 23.F.01 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677038/
  54. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 22.H.04 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677058/
  55. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 21.H.10 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677078/
  56. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 20.H.06 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677098/
  57. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 19.F.03 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677118/
  58. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 18.H.07 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677138/
  59. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 17.H.06 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677158/
  60. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 15.H.03 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677178/
  61. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 14.E.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677198/
  62. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 13.E.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677218/
  63. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 12.A.06 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677238/
  64. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 11.A.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677258/
  65. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 10.A.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677458/
  66. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 09.F.08 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677278/
  67. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 08.A.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677298/
  68. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 07.O.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677318/
  69. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 06.O.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677338/
  70. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 05.O.06 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677358/
  71. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 04.O.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677378/
  72. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 03.O.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677398/
  73. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 02.O.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677418/
  74. Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona str. 01.O.05 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/assembly/677438/

Relevant links and references:

  1. http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/agona-papayas/index.html
  2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20950515
  3. http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=18956
  4. http://genomea.asm.org/content/1/1/e00203-12.full
  5. http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pgen.1003471