Abstract
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium was stressed by incubation in seawater and soil microcosms for 20 years. Recovery of viable but nonculturable Salmonella was obtained by incubation in nutrient broth and buffered peptone water medium for 2 months, and also in a mouse model when administered orally but not by intra-peritoneal injection. The 16S rDNA gene sequences from 20-year stressed strains were homologous, with a high degree of similarity, and all were identical to the respective initial strain.