Review on Salmonella and Its Public Health Importance

Salmonellosis is caused by salmonella organism, which is a gram negative, flagellated, facultative anaerobic, rod shaped, belongs to family of Enterobacteriaceae. Salmonellosis is an infectious disease of humans and animals caused by organisms of the two species of Salmonella (Salmonella enterica, and Salmonella bongori). Although primarily intestinal bacteria, salmonella are widespread in the environment and commonly found in farm effluents, human sewage and in any material subject to fecal contamination. Salmonella has significant public health implications causing food borne and zoonotic diseases in humans. Foodborne salmonellosis often follows consumption of contaminated animal products, which usually results from infected animals used in food production or from contamination of the carcasses or edible organs poultry and poultry-related products. Affected individual’s experience sudden nausea, vomiting and watery fouwl smelling diarrhea which is in most case last only a few days. The economic loss associated in human salmonellosis is due to investigation, treatment and prevention of illness. Pasteurization of milk and treating municipals water supply for reducing risk of Salmonella infection, improvement in farm animal hygiene in slaughter process in food harvesting and in packaging operation have helped to prevent salmonellosis. In general, food animals such as swine, poultry and cattle are the prime sources of Salmonella infections. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to review the public health importance of salmonella and associated risk factors. Key word:- Contamination, Fecal, Food born infection, Salmonella, Zoonosis. DOI: 10.7176/JMPB/75-03 Publication date: January 31st 2025