Sanitation Certification Practice Test

Which category of Salmonella is rare and solely carried by humans?

1. Non-typhoidal Salmonella

2. Typhoidal Salmonella

3. Salmonella enteritidis

4. Salmonella typhimurium

The correct answer is: Typhoidal Salmonella

Typhoidal Salmonella refers specifically to a subset of Salmonella that causes typhoid fever and paratyphoid fever, both of which are primarily associated with human carriers. The species within this category, particularly Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi, are not commonly found in animals, which makes them rare in terms of overall Salmonella infections compared to non-typhoidal strains. Most cases of non-typhoidal Salmonella come from animal sources, such as poultry, eggs, and other livestock, indicating that the typhoidal forms are specifically adapted to humans. This human-centric transmission underscores the importance of sanitation and hygiene in preventing the spread of these diseases, as humans can be significant carriers of these types of Salmonella when not practicing proper food safety and healthcare measures.