AUTHOR=Peruzy Maria Francesca , Proroga Yolande Thérèse Rose , Capuano Federico , Mancusi Andrea , Montone Angela Michela Immacolata , Cristiano Daniela , Balestrieri Anna , Murru Nicoletta 

TITLE=Occurrence and distribution of Salmonella serovars in carcasses and foods in southern Italy: Eleven-year monitoring (2011–2021)

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1005035

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.1005035

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Salmonella</italic> is one of the most common agents of foodborne illness. The genus <italic>Salmonella</italic> includes two species (<italic>Salmonella bongori</italic> and <italic>S. enterica</italic>) and six subspecies (<italic>enterica</italic> I, <italic>salamae</italic> II, <italic>arizonae</italic> IIIa, <italic>diarizonae</italic> IIIb, <italic>houtenae</italic> IV, and <italic>indica</italic> VI), each of which contains multiple serotypes associated with animal and human infections. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of <italic>Salmonella</italic> spp. in carcasses of food-producing animals and foods in southern Italy and the serovar distribution among different sources. From 2011 to 2021, a total of 12,246 foods and 982 samples from animal carcasses were collected and analyzed. The overall percentage of positive samples was 5.84% (<italic>N</italic> = 773) and a significant increase in prevalence was observed by comparing the years 2011–2015 (257, 3.27%) and 2016–2021 (516, 9.61%; <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). The highest percentage of positive food samples was observed in “Meat and Meat Products” (<italic>N</italic> = 327/2,438, 13.41%) followed by “Fish and fishery products” (<italic>N</italic> = 115/1,915, 6.01%). In carcasses, the highest percentage of positive samples was reported from broilers (<italic>N</italic> = 42/81, 51.85%) followed by buffalo (<italic>N =</italic> 50/101, 49.50%) and pork (<italic>N =</italic> 140/380, 36.84%). After typing, the isolates were assigned to the species <italic>S. enterica</italic> and to the subspecies: <italic>enterica</italic> (<italic>N =</italic> 760, 98.32%), <italic>diarizonae</italic> (<italic>N =</italic> 8, 1.03%), <italic>salamae</italic> (<italic>N =</italic> 3, 0.39%) and <italic>houtenae</italic> (<italic>N =</italic> 2, 0.26%). <italic>S.</italic> Infantis was the most frequently detected (<italic>N =</italic> 177, 24.76%), followed by <italic>S.</italic> Derby (<italic>N =</italic> 77, 10.77%), monophasic <italic>S</italic>. Typhimurium (<italic>N =</italic> 63, 8.81%), <italic>S</italic>. Typhimurium (<italic>N =</italic> 54, 7.55%), and <italic>S.</italic> Rissen (<italic>N =</italic> 47, 6.57%). By comparing the sampling period 2011–2015 with that of 2016–2021, an increase in the prevalence of <italic>S.</italic> Infantis and monophasic <italic>S</italic>. Typhimurium and a decrease of <italic>S</italic>. Typhimurium were recorded (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.05). Thus, present data suggest that, despite the implementation of national and European control strategies to protect against <italic>Salmonella</italic>, the prevalence of this pathogen in southern Italy is still increasing and a change of national control programs to protect against <italic>Salmonella</italic> are necessary.</p>