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PetriKey

Bacterium

Salmonella enterica

Motile non-lactose fermenting enteric rod

sal-moh-NEL-uh en-TER-ih-kuh

Gram negativebacteriagram-negativerodenterich2sfoodborne

High-yield clue

Motile non-lactose fermenter + H2S vocabulary is a common Salmonella contrast clue.

Overview

An enteric Gram-negative rod used to teach non-lactose fermentation, motility, H2S vocabulary, and foodborne/public-health concepts.

Classification

  • Gram-negative
  • Rod
  • Enterobacterales

Lab & identification clues

  • Non-lactose fermenter
  • H2S vocabulary
  • Motility concept

Associations

  • Foodborne outbreak vocabulary
  • Enteric fever vocabulary
  • Public-health reporting concepts

Commonly confused with

  • Shigella species
  • Campylobacter jejuni
  • Escherichia coli

Frequently asked questions

What is Salmonella enterica?

An enteric Gram-negative rod used to teach non-lactose fermentation, motility, H2S vocabulary, and foodborne/public-health concepts.

What is the Gram stain of Salmonella enterica?

Salmonella enterica is Gram negative.

What are the lab clues for Salmonella enterica?

Lab clues for Salmonella enterica include Non-lactose fermenter, H2S vocabulary, and Motility concept.

What is Salmonella enterica commonly confused with?

Salmonella enterica is commonly confused with Shigella species, Campylobacter jejuni, and Escherichia coli.

Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.

OpenStax: Microbiology 2e organism classification foundations - sourceNCBI Bookshelf: Medical Microbiology organism chapters - sourceCDC: CDC disease and public-health topic pages - source