Salmonellosis Remains the Hidden Menace in Our Global Food Supply: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Salmonellosis is a globally prevalent zoonotic disease that can occur in sporadic as well as in epidemic form. Disease is caused by Salmonella, which is a ubiquitous bacterium and one of the most frequently isolated foodborne pathogens. It is a major worldwide public health concern, contributing to the economic burden of both industrialized and underdeveloped countries through the costs associated with disease surveillance, prevention and treatment. As of now, over 2,500 Salmonella serotypes have been identified. Of these, more than half are categorized under Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, which is the primary cause of Salmonella infections in humans. Salmonellosis remains a major foodborne zoonosis affecting around 93.8 million people with 230,000 deaths every year globally. This review aims to highlight the background information on Salmonella as a foodborne pathogen, illustrating its breaking point and its economic and public health burden. The pathogen naturally exists in the environment and, animals and its by-products. The primary cause of Salmonella infections is known to be food-borne transmission. Even though human infection occurs via ingestion of contaminated water and food with animal feces, and food-processing equipment, animal-origin food and their products are the commonest vehicles of Salmonella to humans. Poultry, pigs, and cattle, and their products like meat, eggs, and milk are most commonly identified as food sources responsible for outbreaks of human salmonellosis. To prevent bacterial contamination of food, it is essential to follow proper handling and cooking procedures. Risk factors such as raw animal product consumption, unstandardized slaughtering, and unhygienic food preparation and handling procedures may expose people to food-borne pathogens in general, and Salmonella in particular, in the country. The coordinated surveillance and monitoring system for food-borne pathogens like Salmonella should be done to design appropriate and effective control and prevention strategies against these pathogens in developing countries including Ethiopia. As a result, collaboration between human and veterinary practitioners is crucial for increasing disease awareness and education, particularly among susceptible risk groups. One Health approach seems imperative for the control of this major bacterial foodborne disease of global significance.