--- title: Salmonella Food Poisoning date: 2021-01-29T12:04:00-08:00 author: admin canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/about-salmonella" section: Resource Library --- [Foodborne Illnesses](/foodborne-illnesses) / [Salmonella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella) / # Salmonella Food Poisoning ### What is *Salmonella* and how does it cause food poisoning? The term *Salmonella* refers to a specific group of gram-negative bacteria with the potential to cause gastrointestinal distress and other illness (i.e. salmonellosis) in humans. ![](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aboutsalmonellacom-images/outbreaks/salmonella-organism.jpg)It has long been said that, in 1885, pioneering American veterinary scientist, Daniel E. Salmon, discovered the first strain of *Salmonella*. Actually, Theobald Smith, research-assistant to Dr. Salmon, discovered the first strain of *Salmonella* Choleraesuis. But, being the person in charge, Dr. Salmon received credit for the discovery. Salmonellae are widely distributed in nature and are found in the intestinal tract of wild and domesticated animals and in humans. *Salmonella* poisoning can occur when a person ingests contaminated fecal particles transmitted by another infected human or animal. ![](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aboutsalmonellacom-images/outbreaks/image2.png) ![](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aboutsalmonellacom-images/outbreaks/image3.png) Looking at 2000-2008 U.S. data collected by the CDC, among the causes of death from 31 major foodborne pathogens, 64% were bacterial, 25% parasitic, and 12% viral. Overall, *Salmonella* infections accounted for the highest proportion of deaths (28%)—ahead of *Toxoplasma gondii* (24%), *Listeria monocytogenes* (19%), and norovirus (11%). Salmonellosis is largely preventable and is one of the few etiologies for which testing is widely available throughout the world. There are two *Salmonella* species: *Salmonella enterica* (*S. enterica*) and *Salmonella bongori* (*S. bongori*)*. S. bongori* strains predominantly colonize cold-blooded reptiles, whereas *S. enterica* strains are capable of infecting both humans and mammals. Based on factors such as morphology, structure, mode of reproduction, and other criteria, the two species are further classified into subgroups called serotypes or serovars. More than 2,600 serotypes have been described for *Salmonella*, and they are characterized by the type(s) of animal they are found in or by the clinical symptoms they cause. Of these, less than 100 are responsible for most human *Salmonella* infections. Different serotypes tend to be associated with particular routes of infection. Nontyphoidal strains cause self-limiting, localized infection, while typhoidal strains cause systemic illness. Typhoidal strains encompass *S. enterica* serovars Typhi and Paratyphi. Typhoid illness has a clinical presentation characterized by headache, fever, and transient diarrhea or constipation that can lead to systemic sequelae and persistent infection in the respiratory, digestive, or nephrology (urinary tract) systems if left untreated. ![](https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/aboutsalmonellacom-images/outbreaks/image4-3.png)[](https://microbeonline.com/salmonella-disease-properties-pathogenesis-and-laboratory-diagnosis/) [ Next: The Incidence of Salmonella Infections › ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/the-incidence-of-salmonella-infections) ### More information about Salmonella [December 30, 2022 ###### FDA weighs in on Sun Sprouts Salmonella Outbreak The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state and local partners, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/fda-weighs-in-on-sun-sprouts-salmonella-outbreak) [December 11, 2022 ###### 4 Restaurant Chains That Have Had Salmonella Outbreaks In late June of 2003, the Lake County Health Department (LCHD) was contacted by health care providers who had treated patients for Salmonellosis, and customers who had experienced a diarrheal ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/4-restaurant-chains-that-have-had-salmonella-outbreaks) [October 23, 2022 ###### Raw Fish is Salmonella Risk in California and Arizona ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/raw-fish-is-salmonella-risk-in-california-and-arizona) [September 27, 2022 ###### Andrew & Williamson Fresh Produce Cucumber Outbreak Marler Clark, the Salmonella Lawyers, filed 12 lawsuits and were retained by over two dozen families. As of October 14, 2015, 71 more ill people were reported from 23 states ... ](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/andrew-williamson-fresh-produce-cucumber-outbreak) [1. View all ](/news_events/outbreaks?illness=salmonella&year=all) ## All Salmonella Resources [###### Salmonella Food Poisoning ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/about-salmonella) [###### The Incidence of Salmonella Infections ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/the-incidence-of-salmonella-infections) [###### The Prevalence of Salmonella in Food and Elsewhere ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/the-prevalence-of-salmonella-in-food-and-elsewhere) [###### Transmission of Salmonella Bacteria ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/transmission-of-salmonella-bacteria) [###### Symptoms of Salmonella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/salmonella-symptoms-risks) [###### Complications of Salmonella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/complications-of-salmonella-infection) [###### How is Salmonella Infection Diagnosed? ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/salmonella-diagnosis) [###### Treatment for Salmonella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/salmonella-treatment) [###### Antimicrobial Resistance ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/antibiotic-resistance) [###### The Economic Impact of Salmonella Infections ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/the-economic-impact-of-salmonella-infections) [###### Real Life Impacts of Salmonella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/real-life-impacts-of-salmonella-infection) [###### How to Prevent a Salmonella Infection ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/salmonella-prevention) [###### Salmonella Outbreaks ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/salmonella-outbreaks) [###### Salmonella Outbreak at Minnesota Chipotle Sickens 64 People ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/salmonella-outbreak-at-minnesota-chipotle-sickens-64-people) [###### Citterio Salame Stick Oubreak ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/citterio-salame-stick-oubreak) [###### Salmonella Recalls ](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/salmonella/salmonella-recalls) ### Other foodborne illnesses [E. coli](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/e-coli) [Listeria](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/listeria) [Hepatitis A](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hepatitis-a) [Reactive Arthritis](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/reactive-arthritis) [Guillain-Barre Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/guillain-barre-syndrome) [Irritable Bowel Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/irritable-bowel-syndrome) [Norovirus](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/norovirus) [Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism) [Campylobacter](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/campylobacter) [Shigella](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/shigella) [Cyclospora](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/cyclospora) [Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/hemolytic-uremic-syndrome)