[The diffusion dynamics of salmonellae in animal herds]

There are three epidemiological groups to which salmonellae serovars important for man and animals should be assigned: 1. epidemically occurring species-adapted, 2. sporadically occurring, non-species-adapted and 3. endemically occurring, non-species-adapted serovars. Based on this assignment, the epidemiologically relevant categories of salmonellosis and salmonella infection are described, and, their quantitative pattern depending on the host species as well as on exposition and disposition are discussed. Examples are given for conditions that promote salmonella infection and excretion in herds and flocks, which lead to the description of the measures to be taken and the research to be carried out, in order to reduce the risk to human health due to salmonellae in the food chain.