Etiology:  Salmonella are Gram-negative, toxin-producing, invasive, enteric bacteria. The most common serotype of Salmonella enterica to infect mice is serovar Typhimurium.

Transmission:  The disease is spread by fecal-oral transmission.

Public Health Significance:  Salmonella can be transmitted by ingestion of feces, which can occur by eating contaminated foods or having contact with animals or their environments [3].  Children or immunocompromised adults may experience more severe disease.  The disease in humans is reportable.

Please see the mouse Bacterial Diseases section for more detailed information.

3.            Outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhimurium associated with rodents purchased at retail pet stores–United States, December 2003-October 2004. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep, 2005. 54(17): p. 429-33.