Salmonellosis remains one of the most frequent food-borne zoonoses, constituting a worldwide major public health concern. Currently, at a global level, the main sources of infection for humans include meat products, including the consumption of contaminated poultry meat, in spite of the success of Salmonella control measures implemented in food-animal production of industrialized countries. In recent years, a shift in Salmonella serotypes related to poultry and poultry production has been reported in diverse geographical regions, being particularly associated with the spread of certain well-adapted clones. Moreover, antimicrobial resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonella is considered one of the major public health threats related with food-animal production, including the poultry production chain and poultry meat, which is an additional concern in the management of salmonellosis. The circulation of the same multidrug-resistant Salmonella clones and/or identical mobile genetic elements encoding antibiotic resistance genes from poultry to humans highlights this scenario. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the role of poultry meat on salmonellosis at a global scale and the main problems that could hinder the success of Salmonella control measures at animal production level. With the increasing globalization of foodstuffs like poultry meat, new problems and challenges might arise regarding salmonellosis control, making new integrated intervention strategies necessary along the food chain.

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In 200 sulfonamide-resistant Portuguese Salmonella isolates, 152 sul1, 74 sul2, and 14 sul3 genes were detected. Class 1 integrons were always associated with sul genes, including sul3 alone in some isolates. The sul3 gene has been identified in isolates from different sources and serotypes, which also carried a class 1 integron with aadA and dfrA gene cassettes.

Salmonellosis remains one of the most frequent foodborne zoonosis, constituting a worldwide major public health concern. The most frequent sources of human infections are food products of animal origin, being pork meat one of the most relevant. Currently, particular pig food production well-adapted and persistent Salmonella enterica serotypes (e.g., Salmonella Typhimurium, Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:-, Salmonella Derby and Salmonella Rissen) are frequently reported associated with human infections in diverse industrialized countries. The dissemination of those clinically-relevant Salmonella serotypes/clones has been related to the intensification of pig production chain and to an increase in the international trade of pigs and pork meat. Those changes that occurred over the years along the food chain may act as food chain drivers leading to new problems and challenges, compromising the successful control of Salmonella. Among those, the emergence of antibiotic resistance in non-typhoidal Salmonella associated with antimicrobials use in the pig production chain is of special concern for public health. The transmission of pig-related multidrug-resistant Salmonella serotypes, clones and/or genetic elements carrying clinically-relevant antibiotic resistance genes, frequently associated with metal tolerance genes, from pigs and pork meat to humans, has been reported and highlights the contribution of different drivers to the antibiotic resistance burden. Gathered data strengthen the need for global mandatory interventions and strategies for effective Salmonella control and surveillance across the pig production chain. The purpose of this review was to provide an overview of the role of pig and pork meat in human salmonellosis at a global scale, highlighting the main factors contributing to the persistence and dissemination of clinically-relevant pig-related Salmonella serotypes and clones.