3 - Internal contamination of eggs by Salmonella Enteritidis

Abstract

Egg contamination by Salmonella Enteritidis is one of the most important causes of foodborne gastroenteritis in humans throughout the world. This chapter critically overviews the possible routes of internal egg contamination by S. Enteritidis, ranging from penetration through the shell to incorporation into the forming egg. Survival of Salmonella in the forming egg and survival and multiplication strategies in eggs post-lay are also discussed. Salmonella Enteritidis seems to harbour a specific battery of virulence factors, enabling it to efficiently contaminate laying hen eggs and to survive in the hostile egg white compartment.