Nontyphoid Salmonella in farm animals and food products in the Middle East and North Africa: a systematic review.

Aim: This study aimed to document the prevalence, serotype distribution and antibiotic resistance of nontyphoidal Salmonella in animal food products from Middle East/North Africa (MENA) countries. Methods: Peer-reviewed articles published from 1 January 2011 to 7 March 2023 were included and the data were narratively synthesized and statistically analyzed to estimate and compare the overall prevalence. Results: The authors found a high prevalence of Salmonella in MENA countries (12.80%), with the highest prevalence in Lebanon (41.10%). Poultry had a higher prevalence of Salmonella (14.49%) than livestock (9.62%). Salmonella enteritidis was the most commonly identified serotype (21.99%), and sulfamethoxazole had the highest resistance rate (78.81%). Conclusion: The authors emphasize the importance of implementing control measures in MENA countries to limit the spread of the Salmonella pathogen.