Salmonella Typhi Survival in Animal Carcasses: Extended Viability

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is human-adapted, causing typhoid fever. However, related serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis have demonstrated survival in buried animal carcasses for over two years, possibly five or more years under simulated burial conditions. This highlights environmental persistence of non-typhoidal Salmonella and potential for soil/water contamination, though direct Typhi survival in animal hosts is limited by host specificity.