Relationship between non-typhoidal <i>Salmonella</i> dose and food poisoning in humans: A systematic review

Ophélie Colin; Laure David; Jean-Denis Bailly; Pedro Henrique Imazaki; Ophélie Colin; Laure David; Jean-Denis Bailly; Pedro Henrique Imazaki

doi:10.3934/microbiol.2025014

AIMS Microbiology

2025, Volume 11, Issue 2: 295-317. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2025014

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Review

Relationship between non-typhoidal Salmonella dose and food poisoning in humans: A systematic review

1.
Educational Unit on Food Hygiene and Industry, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, Toulouse, France
2.
IRSD, Université de Toulouse, INSERM, INRAE, ENVT, UPS, Toulouse, France
3.
LCA, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, INPT, ENVT, Toulouse, France
4.
INTHERES, Université de Toulouse, INRAE, ENVT, Toulouse, France

Received: 14 October 2024 Revised: 26 March 2025 Accepted: 08 April 2025 Published: 14 April 2025

Food safety is a major public health concern. The zoonotic pathogen non-typhoidal Salmonella, responsible for salmonellosis, is a leading cause of bacterial food poisoning globally, making its detection and control essential. Understanding the infectious dose of Salmonella is crucial for identifying appropriate risk management strategies; however, significant uncertainties remain, warranting a systematic review. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and CAB Abstracts) to identify relevant studies examining the relationship between Salmonella dose and foodborne illness in humans. Four main types of studies were identified: experimental trials, case reports, case series, and mathematical modelling. An analysis of these studies revealed their respective strengths and limitations. The data showed considerable variability, with the dose required to cause illness depending on factors such as Salmonella serovar, food type, and the health status of the exposed population. A key challenge identified was the lack of sufficient data on collective food poisoning incidents, which complicates the development of more reliable dose-response models. Despite these limitations, this review underscores the importance of targeted food safety interventions and risk assessments tailored to specific food products and population groups. The findings provide a foundation for enhanced food safety measures and support ongoing efforts to protect public health from foodborne illnesses.
- Dose-response relationship,
- epidemiology,
- food safety,
- foodborne illness,
- foodborne outbreaks,
- gastroenteritis,
- infectious dose,
- mathematical modelling,
- non-typhoidal Salmonella,
- public health,
- risk assessment,
- systematic review,
- zoonotic pathogens
Citation: Ophélie Colin, Laure David, Jean-Denis Bailly, Pedro Henrique Imazaki. Relationship between non-typhoidal Salmonella dose and food poisoning in humans: A systematic review[J]. AIMS Microbiology, 2025, 11(2): 295-317. doi: 10.3934/microbiol.2025014

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Abstract

Food safety is a major public health concern. The zoonotic pathogen non-typhoidal Salmonella, responsible for salmonellosis, is a leading cause of bacterial food poisoning globally, making its detection and control essential. Understanding the infectious dose of Salmonella is crucial for identifying appropriate risk management strategies; however, significant uncertainties remain, warranting a systematic review. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive search across multiple databases (Web of Science, PubMed, and CAB Abstracts) to identify relevant studies examining the relationship between Salmonella dose and foodborne illness in humans. Four main types of studies were identified: experimental trials, case reports, case series, and mathematical modelling. An analysis of these studies revealed their respective strengths and limitations. The data showed considerable variability, with the dose required to cause illness depending on factors such as Salmonella serovar, food type, and the health status of the exposed population. A key challenge identified was the lack of sufficient data on collective food poisoning incidents, which complicates the development of more reliable dose-response models. Despite these limitations, this review underscores the importance of targeted food safety interventions and risk assessments tailored to specific food products and population groups. The findings provide a foundation for enhanced food safety measures and support ongoing efforts to protect public health from foodborne illnesses.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Mr Louis Daval for his invaluable help in developing the research strategy. The authors did not receive any financial support to conduct this research.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Author contributions

Ophélie Colin, Laure David, Jean-Denis Bailly, and Pedro H. Imazaki conceptualised this study. Methodology, validation, and investigation were conducted by Ophélie Colin and Pedro H. Imazaki. Data curation and formal analysis were performed by Ophélie Colin. Supervision and project administration were managed by Pedro H. Imazaki. Writing of the original draft was undertaken by Ophélie Colin, Laure David, Jean-Denis Bailly, and Pedro H. Imazaki. Review and editing were done by Pedro H. Imazaki.

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