Detection and Molecular Characterization of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Enteritidis in Household Chicken Eggs: A Case Study From Erzurum, Türkiye

Abstract

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is the most predominant serovar in poultry and eggs, and it poses a significant threat to public health worldwide as it is a leading cause of salmonellosis in humans, which is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated poultry products like eggs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of S. Enteritidis in household chicken eggs collected from Erzurum Province, Türkiye. A total of 168 household chicken eggs were collected from 168 small family poultry farms. Salmonella spp. was not isolated from any of the examined egg internal contents; however, successful isolation and identification of Salmonella spp. were achieved in 4 of the shell samples. Further characterization of the identified Salmonella spp. isolates was performed at the serovar level using 16S rDNA sequence analysis, and all 4 isolates were identified as S. Enteritidis. In conclusion, this study highlights the inherent risk of S. Enteritidis contamination in household chicken eggs and emphasizes the vital significance of implementing stringent food safety measures to safeguard consumer well-being and ensure the protection of public health.