Practical Preventive Considerations for Reducing the Public Health Burden of Poultry-Related Salmonellosis

Abstract

With poultry products as one of the leading reservoirs for the pathogen, in a typical year in the United States, it is estimated that over one million individuals contract non-typhoidal Salmonella infections. Foodborne outbreaks associated with Salmonella infections in poultry, thus, continue to remain a significant risk to public health. Moreover, the further emergence of antimicrobial resistance among various serovars of Salmonella is an additional public health concern. Feeding-based strategies (such as use of prebiotics, probiotics, and/or phytobiotics as well as essential oils), non-feeding-based strategies (such as use of bacteriophages, vaccinations, and in ovo strategies), omics tools and surveillance for identifying antibiotic-resistance genes, post-harvest application of antimicrobials, and biosecurity measures at poultry facilities are practical interventions that could reduce the public health burden of salmonellosis and antibiotic resistance associated with poultry products. With the escalating consumption of poultry products around the globe, the fate, prevalence, and transmission of Salmonella in agricultural settings and various poultry-processing facilities are major public health challenges demanding integrated control measures throughout the food chain. Implementation of practical preventive measures discussed in the current study could appreciably reduce the public health burden of foodborne salmonellosis associated with poultry products.

Salmonella and Salmonellosis: An Update on Public Health Implications and Control Strategies

“…in the animal population. Based on these risk factors, different prevention and control methods related to hygiene and management, health and biosafety, animal welfare, and feeding strategies have been proposed [105,106].…”

“…In addition to the feeding-based approach, non-feeding alternatives focus on the use of bacteriophages, vaccines, and the application of biosecurity measures. These strategies are common in poultry and pigs to minimize Salmonella prevalence in farms [105,106].…”