Salmonella are gram-negative, rod-shaped bacilli that can cause salmonellosis, a diarrheal illness in humans. Gram-negative bacteria usually have a cell wall composed of a thin layer of peptidoglycan, covered by a membrane.
There are over 2,300 subtypes of the Salmonella enterica bacterium, including serovars enterititis, Salmonella Agbeni, and typhimurium. The bacteria live in the gut of infected humans and animals. Some animal and human strains can make humans sick.
There are thousands of subtypes of Salmonella bacteria, but only about 12 that make people ill, usually with gastroenteritis. Signs and symptoms of salmonella-induced gastroenteritis include:
stomach cramps
bloody stools
chills
diarrhea
fever
headache
muscle pains
nausea
vomiting
dizziness