False-colour scanning electron micrograph of the bacterium Salmonella sp. Food poisoning (Salmonel- losis) is the usual form of human illness caused by different Salmonella species,other than the species causing typhoid fever. These rod-shaped bacteria have flagellae (yellow) for motility,and are found in many animals including humans,normally coexisting without causing disease. When large numbers are ingested through the medium of contaminated food,particularly meat,milk and eggs,they produce a gastro-intestinal infection,usually controllable,rarely fatal. The symptoms include vomiting,diarrhoea,nausea and abdominal pain. Magnification unknown |