Background: Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (antigenic formula 1,9,12:g,m:- ) is a polyphyletic serovar of the O:9 (D1) serogroup. This serovar is associated with table eggs and chickens. Serovar Enteritidis has caused numerous 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 PTs 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. Invasive strains of S. Enteritidis emerged in sub-Sahara regions of Africa and have caused systemic salmonellosis in travelers returning from Africa.
Serovar S. Nitra shares the same serotype, although it is very rare and is genetically indistinguishable from S. Enteritidis.
Animal reservoir: Chicken is the main reservoir. S. Enteritidis is also found in low percentage (<1%) in turkey and cattle.
Geographical distribution: The distribution of serovar Enteritidis is global; according to the World Health Organization, it is the most common serovar reported from human salmonellosis cases in Europe, North and South America, Africa and Asia.
Outbreaks: Numerous outbreaks have been associated with serovar Enteritidis. Here we mention the latest outbreaks caused by this serovar.
Year | Location | Associated source | Number of cases |
| 2018 | US-multistate | Eggs | 44 |
| 2016 | Multi-country* | Eggs | 112** |
2012 | US-multistate | Ground beef | 46 |
2012 | US-multistate | Restaurant chain A | 68 |
2011 | US-multistate | Turkish Pine Nuts | 43 |
2011 | US-multistate | Alfalfa Sprouts and Spicy Sprouts | 25 |
2011 | England | eggs | 63 |
2011 | Singapore | Seafood Marinara Pasta Seafood | 270 |
2010 | US-multistate | Shell- eggs | 1,939 |
2010 | Austria | eggs | 66 |
*Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK, and potentially Croatia
**112 confirmed, 148 probable
Recalls and Border Rejections:
Year | Exporting Country | Country Issuing Recall/Rejection | Food |
2019 | Poland | Czech Republic | Chilled Beef |
| 2019 | Sudan | Greece | Sesame Seeds |
Relevant links and references:
1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19207743
2. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1757554
3. http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/salmonella_enteritidis/
4. https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/supporting/pub/1110e
6. https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/enteritidis-09-18/index.html