Salmonellosis: An Overview of Epidemiology, Pathogenesis, and Innovative Approaches to Mitigate the Antimicrobial Resistant Infections

1Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen that belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It causes human gastroenteritis and can inhabit animals, amphibians, and reptiles. The transmission of Salmonella to a healthy host occurs through the consumption of contaminated food and water. Salmonella has been causing a significant impact on health and economics worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes Salmonella as one of the four most important causes of diarrhea worldwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 1.35 million people are infected with Salmonella, with about 420 deaths annually. The economic burden caused by Salmonella comes at the third position among a list of the annual cost of illness caused by 14 foodborne pathogens, with an annual cost of about $3.3 billion. Annually, around 200 million to 1 billion cases of Salmonella infections are recorded worldwide, with 93 million cases of gastroenteritis and 155,000 deaths; among them, approximately 85% of the cases are associated with the consumption of contaminated food. Salmonella outbreaks in 2022 alone in the US caused about 884 cases across 48 states between February and July, which were mainly attributed to poultry and poultry products. Salmonella is classified as one of the category B pathogens with moderate morbidity and low death rates. The severity of the infection in humans varies depending on the serotype of the bacteria and the immune status of the host, with the infection classified into typhoidal and non-typhoidal types. Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections are often associated with acute onset of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever. It is usually self-limiting, resolving between 1 and 7 days without treatment, depending on the host status. However, about 5% of people, including immune-compromised patients, infants, and older adults, may develop bacteremia or invasive infections such as meningitis, osteomyelitis, endovascular infections, and septic arthritis. The typhoidal Salmonella serovars are responsible for non-specific disseminated infections, with symptoms including sustained fever (39–40 °C), headache, diarrhea or constipation, loss of appetite, and relative bradycardia.

2Salmonella infects birds of all age groups. However, young chickens and turkeys are highly susceptible within the first two weeks of age. The disease is characterized by poor body condition, such as ruffled feathers, weakness, and anorexia. Additionally, infected birds tend to huddle together, exhibit diarrhea and a pasty vent, with decreased egg production, and post-mortem examination shows signs of a swollen liver and spleen with hemorrhages. Studies have suggested that over 52% of Salmonella infections in poultry are caused by S. Enteritidis, making it one of the most prevalent serotypes of Salmonella in the US, whereas, according to the National Veterinary Services Laboratory, the most common serotype in livestock, especially cattle, was found to be S. Dublin (18%), followed by S. Cerro (16%) and S. Typhimurium (13%).

3Treating salmonellosis in humans and animals typically relies on antibiotics. Broad-spectrum antibiotics are normally used to treat highly susceptible individuals with clinical complications. Chloramphenicol and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole antibiotics were first used for the treatment of salmonellosis. Currently, third-generation quinolones such as fluoroquinolones, including ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin, are the drug of choice for treating Salmonella infection in immunocompromised patients. Due to the increasing bacterial resistance against fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins like ceftriaxone and macrolides like azithromycin are being used as empiric treatment to control Salmonella infections. Like antibiotics, vaccines are also used to prevent and control Salmonella infections in humans and animals. There are two vaccines for Salmonella approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): the live attenuated Ty21a oral vaccine and intra-muscular Vi polysaccharide capsular vaccine, whereas several other vaccines such as the GMMA-based vaccine, glycoconjugate vaccine, O-antigen glycoconjugate vaccines, and new attenuated vaccines are still in development. The effectiveness of vaccines against Salmonella is constrained by various factors such as the presence of asymptomatic carriers, which makes it difficult to design vaccines, complex immune evasion mechanisms, and the presence of diverse serotypes. Currently, available typhoid vaccines provide only moderate and short-term protection in humans. Additionally, Salmonella serotypes are highly variable, with significant genetic diversity within and between hosts, complicating the efforts to control the pathogen.

4Therefore, there is a critical need for developing novel antibiotic alternative approaches to control Salmonella infections in animals and humans, including probiotics, prebiotics and bacteriophage, antimicrobial peptides, essential oils, and vaccines. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology of salmonellosis with emphasis on transmission dynamics, host spectrum, clinical signs, the most recent outbreaks, and pathogenesis. We also provide insights on the current antibiotic treatment and emphasize the novel antibiotic alternatives developed/under development to control AMR-Salmonella infections in animals and humans.

5Approximately 2659 Salmonella serovars were identified according to the White–Kauffmann–Le Minor scheme in the published supplement (no. 48–2014). Salmonella serovars are classified into typhoidal and nontyphoidal (NTS) according to their ability to develop specific pathogenicity in humans and animals. Typhoidal serovars that cause typhoid and paratyphoid fever in humans include S. Typhi, S. Paratyphi A, B, C, and S. Sendai. These serovars are highly host-specific and are only transmitted from infected hosts or carriers through contaminated food and water. Typhoidal salmonellosis is characterized by high mortality and low morbidity. However, NTS includes more than 2000 serotypes, which predominantly include S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, S. Newport, and S. Heidelberg, and can infect both humans and animals. Some NTS serovars like S. Typhimurium phage type DT2, S. Abortusovis, S. Typhisuis, S. Gallinarum, and S. Pullorum primarily infect pigeons, sheep, swine, aquatic birds, and poultry, respectively, whereas S. Dublin and S. Choleraesuis primarily infect cattle and pigs. Moreover, NTS can easily adapt to a wide range of hosts and can quickly spread from infected hosts by consuming contaminated food and water. The invasive nontyphoidal Salmonella [iNTS] are more virulent than other non-iNTS types; however, most of the iNTS serovars are similar to non-iNTS in terms of the type of illness, susceptibility to the high-risk group, and other characteristics such as the development of multidrug resistance. The ability of Salmonella to adapt to the host’s environment and trigger clinical symptoms in that specific host is influenced by factors such as the dosage of the infecting bacteria, the host species involved, the age of the host, and its immune status. For example, S. Choleraesuis serovar is a pig-adapted serovar, and it produces the most severe sickness in pigs compared to humans. Some serotypes like S. enterica serovar Typhimurium have been listed as the prototypical broad host range serotype that can infect humans, livestock, domestic fowl, horses, swine, pigeons, rodents, and birds. Other serovars such as S. enterica subspecies can be classified as host-generalist, host-adapted, or host-restricted. They have developed mechanisms for surviving within the host while avoiding immune responses via colonizing the non-phagocytic cells. For example, S. Typhi spreads from the gastrointestinal tract to the reticuloendothelial system. Moreover, it normally colonizes the surface of gallstones upon dissemination. Approximately 1–6% of people infected with Salmonella Typhi do not display clinical symptoms after primary infections but become asymptomatic and chronic bacterial carriers. Conversely, the pathogenesis of host-generalist serovars frequently results in gastroenteritis, and Salmonella shedding occurs for a very short time. Because of their limited long-term shedding capability, the lifetime of host-generalist NTS is more dependent on their ability to survive in the environment.

6Because Salmonella species are thought to be part of the normal microbiota of an animal’s gut or gallbladder, these animals may also play a role in the pathogen’s indirect or direct transmission to humans. The sources of Salmonella infection include (1) Poultry and poultry products, which are considered the primary source of Salmonella infection in humans. Meat contamination occurs generally as a result of improper handling of the infected organs, such as the gut and liver, during carcass processing. Salmonella infection in 44 broiler and 51 layer farms was investigated, where Salmonella was found in 41.3% of the broiler houses, and nearly 50% of the strains identified were capable of producing biofilm. In the US, a previous report demonstrated that the prevalence of S. Enteritidis serovar in chicken products has grown from 0.45% to 1.5% within a period of 10 years (2002–2012), implying that poultry meat is one of the substantial risk factors for human infection. Frozen raw breaded chicken products (FRBCP) have also been recognized as a Salmonella risk factor in Canada and the US. From a list of 18 food sources, eggs and egg products were the most frequent sources of salmonellosis outbreaks. (2) Ground meat: The CDC conducted a population survey which found that 82.2% of Americans consume beef weekly, with 67% explicitly preferring ground beef. It was determined that chicken, pig, and beef were responsible for 34, 25, and 16% of Salmonella outbreaks, respectively, and 10% of human salmonellosis is attributed to beef consumption in the US. A recent outbreak of salmonellosis has resulted in over 400 reported infections, with more than 100 individuals requiring hospitalization. The outbreak was attributed to antibiotic-resistant (AMR) S. Newport, which was traced back to the consumption of ground beef in 30 different states. (3) Pets may contaminate the environment and transmit infection to other food-producing animals by sporadically shedding bacteria in their feces. Pets like dogs fed on raw food diets are more likely to harbor Salmonella serovars such as S. Typhimurium, S. Heidelberg, and S. Kentucky. Moreover, the probability of Salmonella shedding was around 23 times higher in dogs on raw food diets than in dogs on commercial diets. Furthermore, a case–control study on salmonellosis in children in Michigan revealed that exposure to cats is one of the major risk factors for Salmonella infection. (4) Wild animals, including wild boar and feral pigs, play a crucial role in transmitting Salmonella to both domesticated animals and humans globally. Salmonella is frequently detected in various wild mammals, such as opossums, raccoons, foxes, mink, tigers, cougars, seals, white-tailed deer, and whales, as well as wild birds. Domesticated animals become infected through contact with the contaminated feces of wild animals and birds. In humans, transmission commonly takes place either through direct contact with the contaminated feces from infected animals or from the consumption of contaminated meat from wild birds and other wild animals such as deer or wild boars. Several studies have been conducted to determine the prevalence of Salmonella in wild animals. For example, Cummings et al., found that out of 442 fecal samples obtained from feral pigs across 50 counties in Texas, USA, 43% tested positive for Salmonella. Among these samples, the most prevalent serovars were S. Montevideo (10%), S. Newport (9.1%), and S. Give (8.2%). Likewise, Molino et al. demonstrated that upon analyzing tissue samples from 1041 wild boars from central–western Spain, 7.7% were positive for Salmonella and S. Newport was the most prevalent serovar. Similarly, out of 225 fecal samples collected from captive wildlife and exotic animals including giraffes, cranes, and raccoons from Ohio, USA, 24.9% (n = 56) were positive for Salmonella and the most common serovars included S. Typhimurium (64.3%), S. Newport (32.1%), and S. Heidelberg (5.3%). (5) Insects are also one of the vectors for transmitting Salmonella in the farm setting. Research has demonstrated that houseflies and dump flies, namely Musca domestica and Hydrotaea aenescens, can carry S. Enteritidis, S. Heidelberg, and S. Infantis serotypes. Similarly, larvae and adult lesser mealworms (Alphitobius diaperinus) have also been found to harbor AMR S. Enteritidis and transmit infections in farm settings. Furthermore, 15 different serotypes, including S. Anatum, S. Choleraesuis var. kunzendorf, and S. Derby, were found in common house flies (Musca domestica) on a swine farm. Moreover, 13 of these serotypes were found in swine fecal samples, with S. Anatum and S. Derby being the predominant ones. (6) Rodents such as house mice are one of the significant sources of infection on farms. It was reported that the house mouse (Mus musculus) plays a crucial role in transmitting Salmonella Enteritidis infection among farm animals. Additionally, species such as the roof rat (Rattus rattus) are also known sources of S. Enteritidis infections. Various studies have reported that R. rattus, R. norvegicus, and M. musculus domesticus are all implicated as sources of several Salmonella serotypes in poultry and pig farms. Similarly, the CDC defines other host species, such as reptiles and amphibians, as hosts that can harbor Salmonella and transmit the infection to humans and farm animals. Additionally, the ability of Salmonella to form biofilms, enabling it to attach to and endure various environmental surfaces, vegetables, fruits, and chicken egg shells, as well as surfaces in proximity to animal living areas, like vacuum cleaner bags, sink drains, and doorknobs in households, helps in the further transmission of the bacteria to the mammalian hosts. Other sources such as water, contaminated floors, carts, using contaminated water for crop irrigation, or direct contact with feces from animals carrying Salmonella can also transmit the infection to humans.

7The transmission of Salmonella serotypes often varies significantly between human and animal populations in the same geographical region. Various Salmonella serotypes exhibit differing potentials for causing human disease. However, the transmission of Salmonella infections can occur through direct or indirect contact at home, hospital, or farm settings; however, most of the Salmonella-related illnesses that occur globally each year are foodborne. The transmission of Salmonella may occur by direct contact through direct consumption of fecal-contaminated food or water. Vertical transmission occurs typically in birds and reptiles where the bacteria from the female reproductive tract obtain access to the eggs. The introduction of the pathogen relies upon the thickness and permeability of an eggshell, where the reptiles’ eggshell is more thinner and permeable than avians, whereas indirect transmission occurs when the bacteria are transmitted through intermediate objects such as contaminated utensils and live or inanimate vectors. The transmission cycle of Salmonella is shown in Figure 1.

8Risk factors for a particular pathogen vary depending on the environmental stress the host and the pathogen endure. According to the CDC, infections with Salmonella are more prevalent during the summer (June, July, and August) than in the winter. Moreover, poorly breastfed infants, young children normally under the age of five years, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are the most vulnerable to severe Salmonella infections. Certain drugs, such as stomach antacids and antibiotics, can create gut dysbiosis, thus increasing the risk of Salmonella infections. The development of clinical symptoms between animals can vary depending on various factors, including animal species, age groups, and geographical area. The risk factors for animal infections include stress, co-infection with another pathogen, and contaminated food. The size of animal herds increases the risk of salmonellosis in farm animals, and bacterial shedding appears to be impacted by different factors such as production methods, housing types, general cleanliness standards, management practices, and the age of the animals. Moreover, environmental factors such as dust, dirty surfaces, and chicken excrement are the known risk factors for acquiring the infections. In humans, nail-biting, contact with animal excreta, sucking the thumb in children, and eating without properly sanitizing hands after farm work are considered potential risk factors for animal-acquired Salmonella infections. Consuming contaminated food is one of the most significant risk factors in humans.

9Typhoidal Salmonella serovars, such as S. Typhi or S. Paratyphi, are the causative agents of enteric fever, also known as typhoid or paratyphoid, respectively. Globally, there are 11–21 million instances of typhoid fever and 5 million cases of paratyphoid fever each year, resulting in approximately 135,000–230,000 deaths annually. In the US, around 400 confirmed cases of typhoid fever and 5–100 cases of paratyphoid fever tested positive in cultures between 2016 and 2018. Notably, more than 85% of these cases occurred in individuals who had traveled internationally. The incubation period of enteric fever is marked by a duration of one week or longer, during which individuals experience several symptoms, such as high fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and headache. Throughout enteric fever, a notable fever pattern emerges. It begins with a low-grade fever (>37.5 °C to 38.2 °C) and gradually progresses to a high-grade fever (>38.2 °C to 41.5 °C) in the second week. The fever can persist without appropriate treatment for a month or even longer. In addition to fever, infected individuals may experience myalgia, bradycardia, hepatomegaly (enlarged liver), splenomegaly (enlarged spleen), and rose blotches on their chest and abdomen. Approximately 15% of infected individuals in endemic areas experience gastrointestinal problems such as pancreatitis, hepatitis, and cholecystitis. Hemorrhage is one of the most serious gastrointestinal complications caused by the perforation of Peyer’s patches, the lymphatic nodules found in the terminal ileum causing bloody diarrhea. Furthermore, typhoidal Salmonella’s nature to live and remain in the reticuloendothelial system results in recurrence in around 10% of infected individuals.

10Non-typhoidal Salmonella affects approximately 93.8 million people and causes 160,000 fatalities globally each year. According to the current surveillance report in the US on NTS infections in humans, most of the isolated serovars are S. Enteritidis, S. Typhimurium, and S. Newport, while S. enteritidis are the most common serotype recovered from clinical samples in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. The infection is typically self-limiting and the symptoms normally last for about a week. The incubation period ranges from 6 h to 6 days after initial inoculation and the infection normally lasts for 4 to 7 days. Shedding of the bacteria via feces may last for a month or longer. The most common human symptoms include gastroenteritis, accompanied by clinical signs including nausea, vomiting, headache, abdominal pain, non-bloody diarrhea, and muscle pain. The severity of the infections increases in susceptible individuals such as babies and children under the age of five years, immunocompromised patients, and immunocompromised elderly people. Conditions like cholecystitis, pancreatitis, and appendicitis may manifest and can escalate to severe levels, leading to life-threatening conditions like meningitis and sepsis. Inadequate fluid balance due to prolonged loss of bodily fluids can lead to dehydration, which may be fatal in newborns and older adults. Reactive arthritis, a persistent autoimmune joint inflammation, may supervene even after weeks or months of urogenital or digestive tract infections and occurs in around 20% of clinical cases reported in Europe and the US following Salmonella infections. Furthermore, Salmonella infections are implicated in the development of colonic cancer in patients suffering from chronic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the risk factor for colorectal and gallbladder cancer.

11Salmonella infections are prevalent among various animals, encompassing both domesticated and wild species. This bacterium typically affects the host gastrointestinal tracts, often without readily apparent symptoms of illness. Salmonella can present itself at both clinical (symptomatic) and sub-clinical (asymptomatic) levels. Poultry can serve as healthy carriers and the clinical signs in poultry depend on the bacteria’s serotype. For instance, S. enterica serovar Pullorum causes anorexia, diarrhea, dehydration, and death in young poults, and adult birds demonstrate diarrhea, decreased egg production, poor hatchability, and increased mortality, whereas fowl typhoid can be characterized by acute diarrhea, dehydration, weakness, septicemia, and death. Nevertheless, regardless of the bacterial serotype, all Salmonella infections in poultry are commonly characterized by pronounced symptoms, including extensive diarrhea, fever, weight loss, dehydration, and death. Similarly, Salmonella infections in animals vary based on the age group and specific bacteria serotype, particularly in large and small ruminant animals. Ruminants and pigs commonly exhibit acute enteric infections, characterized by clinical indications such as fever, reduced appetite, lethargy, and diarrhea. Conversely, systemic infections tend to be more prevalent among younger animals. Notably, abortion has been extensively recorded in cattle specifically attributed to NTS serotypes S. Typhimurium and S. Dublin. The infection in dogs and cats can be manifested by anorexia, fever, nausea, vomiting, acute gastroenteritis anorexia, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Similarly, horses are also considered a risk group for Salmonella infections, with atypical symptoms such as voluminous gastric reflux, diarrhea, and fever. They can also serve as asymptomatic carriers of the bacteria, thereby shedding them into the environment and disseminating the infection throughout the farm or facility.

12Currently, the advancement of science and technology and globalization have made international trade and travel easily accessible to the general population. However, it has increased the risk of the rapid spread of infectious diseases throughout the world. Controlling an outbreak of foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella can be challenging due to several factors, such as environmental factors and the high risk of indirect transmission through the consumption of Salmonella-contaminated food and water, which may originate from any source. Salmonella infection presents significant public health concerns due to its propensity for endemicity, high rates of morbidity and mortality, and the challenge of implementing effective and timely control measures. Salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million illnesses, with 26,500 annual hospitalizations and 420 fatalities in the US each year, as tracked by the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet). It was suggested that there is a substantial relationship between Salmonella serovar and the type and origin of the food commodity. For example, outbreaks linked to poultry are generally associated with S. Enteritidis, S. Heidelberg, and S. Hadar, while outbreaks of S. Uganda have been associated with the consumption of contaminated pork and beef meat. Outbreaks associated with farm products such as fruits and vegetables have also been documented. Several reports suggest that improper handling of infected chicks is also responsible for a considerable number of human outbreaks of salmonellosis, mainly involving serovars such as S. Typhimurium, S. Johannesburg, S. Braenderup, S. Thompson, and S. Montevideo. The serovars S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis are also linked with the zoonotic transmission of salmonellosis from companion animals such as kittens, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, and turtles.

13Salmonella is a highly virulent pathogen and the presence of as low as 10 CFU/mL of bacteria typically represents a high potential for pathogenicity. In 2018, about 92,000 confirmed human salmonellosis cases were documented in the US alone. NTS causes over 100,000 gastroenteritis illnesses in Canada annually. S. Enteritidis stands out as the predominant serovar, accounting for around 45% of human salmonellosis cases in Canada, followed by S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg, constituting 8% and 6% of such cases, respectively. Similarly, S. Typhimurium is the most common serovar in humans in North America and Oceania, regardless of the source, followed by S. Enteritidis. In contrast, S. Enteritidis ranked as the most common serovar in the European Union, followed by S. Typhimurium. However, S. Enteritidis was reported in pork only in Africa and Asia. In Europe, a total of 1508 Salmonella outbreaks were included in the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) analysis. Of these, 1040 were caused by foods, including salads, steak, and ham, whereas 468 outbreaks were caused by unknown food sources including complex foods like bakery products containing eggs, dairy products, and grains. Approximately 939 outbreaks were recorded to be caused by S. Enteritidis, 130 by S. Typhimurium and its monophasic variant, 107 by other known serotypes, and 332 by unknown types in the European Union. In May 2022, 324 cases were reported in 12 EU/EEA countries and the UK, including two distinct strains of monophasic S. Typhimurium. Most cases were in children below ten years of age, and 41% of all cases were hospitalized. Chocolate products in Belgium were reported to be a source of infection. The most recent Salmonella outbreaks in the US, their source, and the identified serotype are shown in Table 1. Between 2012 and 2023, there were approximately 86 outbreaks, and 18,031 illnesses occurred in the US alone.

14The pathogenesis of Salmonella serotypes starts with the adherence of the bacteria to the host cell surface. After adhesion, bacteria’s internalization occurs either through the uptake of bacteria via phagocytosis or by active invasion of both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. The phagocytosis process involves intricate mechanisms that rely on the engagement of multiple receptors, such as Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs). The PRRs include toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytosolic nucleotide-binding receptors, which recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) like lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and flagellin located on either the cell surface or within phagosomes. This recognition influences the maturation of phagosomes, triggers signaling pathways, and modulates gene expression. Studies suggest that the interaction between the TLR and LPS in NTS species plays a vital role in developing septic shock. However, the typhoidal serovars, including S. Typhi, evade recognition by TLR4, thus preventing the recruitment of neutrophils and the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules such as TNF-α and Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and preventing a typical antimicrobial response in the host. The level of production of the cytokines in human monocytes is, however, similar to those elicited in the NTS infections. This is an essential stage in the invasion of Salmonella and occurs by infiltrating both phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. Invasion and colonization of Salmonella in the host cells rely on several virulence factors, including:

15Virulence plasmids play a crucial role in bacteria by harboring genes related to antibiotic resistance and virulence factors such as spvB (ADP-ribosylating toxin) and spvC (inhibits pyroptosis and inflammation). Virulence plasmids are required to develop the systemic disease in the host and can spread through horizontal gene transfer by transformation and conjugation. They are large and present in low copy numbers to minimize the strain on the host’s cell metabolism, preventing them from being retained during cell division. In response, virulence plasmids have evolved to guarantee distribution, preserving their presence.

16Type III secretion systems (T3SSs) are responsible for translocating effector proteins from prokaryotic cytoplasm to the eukaryotic cytosol. In Salmonella, the T3SS is encoded by two distinct pathogenicity islands, namely SPI1 and SPI2. SPI-1 encodes the T3SS1 and plays a crucial role in invading non-phagocytic epithelia. SPI-2 encodes the T3SS2 effector proteins that function by regulating the dynamics of Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) membranes, placing SCVs in specific positions within host cells, influencing immune responses, modifying the cytoskeleton, and impacting the movement of infected cells. These effector proteins combine to undermine the cytoskeleton, signal transduction pathways, and pro-inflammatory responses of the host.

17The Type 1 secretion system is responsible for delivering a wide range of molecules like lipases, surface proteins, toxins, and adenylate cyclase into the extracellular space of Salmonella. It is also responsible for mediating adhesion and invasion into the host immune cells and biofilm formation. Two distinct surface-associated proteins, BapA, responsible for adhering to host cells and forming biofilms, and SiiE, responsible for the initial attachment to host cells followed by invasion, are transported through a specialized Type 1 secretion system (T1SS).

18Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is a group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion of superoxide radicals (O2−) into molecular oxygen (O2) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Numerous host cells generate reactive oxygen species, primarily via the functioning of the phagosome NADPH oxidase, which is essential for eliminating intracellular pathogens. To counterbalance this effect, Salmonella uses superoxide dismutases and SodCI and SodCII enzymes, which help the bacteria in cellular defense against reactive oxygen species. Both of the enzymes are produced during the infections; however, SodCI relative to SodCII is tethered within the periplasm and is resistant to proteases. This allows the enzyme to maintain functionality and help the bacteria survive in the phagosome’s challenging environmental conditions.

19Adherence to the host cells plays a pivotal role in the progression of Salmonella infection. Salmonella possesses fimbrial gene clusters (FGCs) within its genome, which encodes extracellular fimbriae. Among the extracellular fimbriae, one of the most prevalent adhesive structures is known as type 1 fimbriae (T1F). T1F is primarily composed of fimA protein and an adhesive protein fimH, which is critical in binding to specific receptors, preferably glycoproteins that carry terminal mannose residues. The adhesive protein fimH is a pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognized by host TLRs and significantly influences the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

20The motility of Salmonella is driven by the activity of flagella. Flagella participates in adhesion, invasion, protein export, and biofilm formation. Biofilm formation is regulated through the transcription factor CsgD. Salmonella has two genes for flagellin, fljB and fliC. Out of the two flagellin genes, the expression of fliC is more crucial in identifying specific sites on host cells than fljB. In bacteria with impaired flagellar motility, there is an observable diminished adhesion and smaller colony formation in biofilms.

21The Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi differs from NTS due to the production of the ‘Vi antigen’, a polysaccharide capsule located on the cell surface. The Vi antigen inhibits phagocytosis and helps develop resistance against the host immune system. It is also responsible for the translocation of S. Typhi to the gallbladder as it helps the bacteria to surpass the phagocyte-mediated barrier. Ultimately, it prevents the binding of IgM, which gives the pathogen the ability to hinder neutrophil chemotaxis, neutrophil phagocytosis, and the neutrophil respiratory burst.

22One of the most significant features of S. Typhi is its ability to produce toxins resulting in typhoid fever. This typhoid toxin belongs to the group of AB toxins, which include an enzymatic subunit (A) and a receptor subunit (B). Salmonella-containing vacuole exports toxin from infected cells into the external environment, allowing it to affect other target cells.

23Lipopolysaccharides are a major component of the outer membrane of any Gram-negative bacteria responsible for eliciting innate immune response in the host. It provides cell stability and acts as a permeability barrier. LPS is made up of lipid A, core oligosaccharide (C-OS), and O-antigen polysaccharide (O-PS). LPS is also responsible for adherence or invasion of the host epithelial. The proper distribution of O-antigen is required to express virulence in S. Typhimurium. It is also responsible for determining antigenic specificity between and within the bacterial species.

24Formation or the ability to develop biofilms is one of the major determinants of virulence in Salmonella inside the host. Biofilms are the adaptive response that could alter the gene expression of the bacteria to promote resistance to both environmental stressors and antibiotics. A Salmonella biofilm is formed by the secretion of a polymeric matrix characterized by the expression of different factors such as curli fimbriae and cellulose, which are the two predominant components. Biofilm formation in Salmonella is regulated by csgD, a curli subunit gene belonging to the LuxR group. The expression of csgD is regulated by various environmental signals and transcription factors such as c-di-GMP and sRNAs on a post-transcriptional level.

25Various control strategies are employed to manage and prevent salmonellosis in humans. These measures encompass practices related to cleanliness and sanitation, consistent screening and diagnosis of individuals responsible for food handling, regular surveillance of potential carrier animals, and treating both carriers and those showing symptoms. In animals, all stages of the production system should be regularly screened for Salmonella infection, including breeding facilities, vehicles, slaughterhouses, and storage facilities. Several strategies can be used to prevent or control Salmonella infections in humans and animals, including:

26Control of salmonellosis in farm settings depends on good management and biosecurity practices. To apply successful biosecurity programs and to control the spread of infection, the primary source of infection and the methods of transmission within the farm must be well identified. Any successful biosecurity program must include isolation of sick animals, traffic limitation, disinfection, and sanitation of the farm. Two types of biosecurity measures can be conducted to prevent or reduce the risk of infection flowing in and out of the farm, including external and internal biosecurity practices. External biosecurity measures are pivotal in minimizing the influx of infections originating outside the farm premises. These strategies encompass the installation of perimeter fences, regulating the movement of vehicles to and from the farm and imposing restrictions on the introduction of animals from external sources, whereas internal biosecurity measures are designed to manage Salmonella transmission within the farm environment effectively. These tactics include changing footwear and clothing when transitioning from outside to inside the farm, isolating animals exhibiting symptoms from healthy ones, and routinely decontaminating the bedding material and transporting vehicles including dead animal transporters.

27Farm visitors such as veterinarians, stakeholders, salespeople, and technicians are among the highest-risk visitors as a source of infection. Furthermore, the need for more awareness among certain farmers regarding necessary safety precautions while moving in and out of the farm can potentially introduce Salmonella infection from neighboring farms and the environment. Failure to adequately clean or dispose of their clothing, boots, and tools can also result in contamination. Several farm safety guidelines can be implemented to decrease the risk of infection disseminating from personnel, which includes (1) the movement of the visitors should be strictly restricted; (2) visitors and workers must be supplied with clean outer clothes and boots; (3) regular organic matter removal and provide footbaths with disinfectants, especially during working inside the farm; (4) caring of the animals should always start with the healthy and the young stock and move to the sick and adult stocks; (5) workers must not use the same tools for handling both food and manures or at least must be disinfected between use; (6) tools must not be borrowed from neighboring farms; (7) access to vehicles must be limited, especially in the farm premise, and vehicles must be cleaned and disinfected before entering the farm.

28According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), vectors are living organisms that are not only capable of transmitting a pathogen but also help disseminate the associated diseases in the population. Some insects, rodents, and wild birds have been reported as sources of infection incidence, transmission, spread, and maintenance. Rodents and wild birds can harbor the infections from different sources and transmit the infections to other farm animals through their feces on any part of the farm, including food and water; therefore, repeated disinfection is required with rodent control. A high degree of sanitation must be applied, including litter and garbage disposal and proper filling up of any holes or openings to prevent access for mice. Moreover, supplies must be stored well in a clean area apart from the main building to avoid rodent access. For the control of the carrier insects, a high level of sanitation must be maintained in animal farms and holdings, including regular and fast litter and waste removal, keeping the place well-ventilated and dry without any stagnant water. Synthetic chemical insecticides and organophosphates can also be used regularly. These include permethrin, fenvalerate, tetrachlorvinphos (TCVP), dichlorvos organophosphate (DDVP), methomyl, benomyl, cyromazine, and dimethoate, but most of them have serious toxic effects on humans and animals, so specific instructions must be followed during their application. Natural extracts such as essential oils with insecticidal or insect repellent activities and bioinsecticides formed of natural constituents can be used as a healthier and more eco-friendly, economical, and effective alternative. Pyrethrin, a natural extract from chrysanthemum flowers, can be used with a lower level of toxicity. Some essential oils like thyme, cinnamon, rosemary, clove, mint, orange, eucalyptus, and tea tree are considered to have established insecticide activity with lower toxicity and are registered to be among the commercially available constitutes of natural pesticides.

29The principle of quarantine mainly focuses on two primary goals: prevention of infection transmission to healthy animals and prevention of transmission in the hospital setting to vulnerable individuals such as immune-compromised patients, children, and the elderly. Isolation of a sick person or animal and limiting contact with such individuals will significantly reduce the risk of contamination and the spread of the disease between humans and animals. The isolation units should be away from the healthy sheds and should have a proper manure disposal facility. Regularly cleaning the farm equipment, utensils, feeders, and drinkers and relevant safe transportation and disposal procedures for contaminated carcasses are urgently required. The duration of the quarantine period varies according to the type of pathogen and the status of exposure to the pathogen. For individuals who are healthy and have been exposed, the quarantine period should align with the pathogen’s incubation period. Conversely, for infected animals, the quarantine duration should be determined by the time it takes for symptoms to manifest, along with confirmation through laboratory diagnosis. Together, applying these control measures as “biosecurity and hygienic management” can positively impact food safety, and animal, and human health.

30The treatment of Salmonella infections typically relies on supportive therapy. The infection is normally self-limiting, and the individuals do not require therapeutic treatment. However, individuals with weakened immune systems, underlying health conditions, or severe infection might require antibiotics. In the past, chloramphenicol was utilized for treating Salmonella infections. The preferred antibiotic choices include ampicillin, third-generation quinolones such as ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin, third generation cephalosporins like ceftriaxone, and macrolides. Unfortunately, bacterial resistance to these important antibiotics has been growing, posing a challenge to effective treatment. Antibiotic resistance has become a global concern in both non-Typhoidal and Typhoidal Salmonella strains. The emergence of antibiotic resistance has exhibited an escalating trend of 20–30% per decade. The extent of resistance, however, varies across different antibiotics and serotypes of the bacteria, highlighting the delicate interplay between microbial genetic factors, environmental conditions, and the selective pressures that contribute to the diverse spectrum of AMR strains observed within bacterial populations. It is noteworthy that serotypes with higher prevalence tend to develop resistance against commonly prescribed antibiotics more frequently. It was reported that 30.9% of isolated Salmonella strains from broiler farms exhibited resistance to streptomycin, with 13.9% resistant to tetracycline, 12.6% resistant to gentamycin, and 8.6% resistant to sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Similarly, a substantial level of resistance was noted towards ceftriaxone (75%) and ceftiofur (44%). Multidrug-resistant Salmonella was also identified in several studies before. For instance, MDR was detected in 17% of broiler chickens in Egypt, with the highest resistance against neomycin (100%), nalidixic acid and cefoxitin (95%), norfloxacin (86.3%), cefotaxime (77.2%), amikacin (72.7%), erythromycin (68.1%), and chloramphenicol (40.9%). Similarly, 19.6% of S. Infantis isolates from animals in the US possessed MDR, with the highest resistance observed against aminoglycosides, chloramphinecol, beta-lactams, and tetracyclines. Furthermore, in Salmonella isolated from equines between 2007 and 2015, 10.2% of the samples were MDR strains, with the highest resistance against aminoglycosides (gentamycin and streptomycin), followed by beta lactam inhibitors including penicillin (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and ampicillin), cephems (cefoxitin, ceftiofur, and ceftriaxone), and folate pathway inhibitors (sulfisoxazole and trimethoprim), respectively. Furthermore, MDR has also been demonstrated in wild animals and birds. For example, Cilia et al. found that AMR strain prevalence in European wild boar hunted in Central Italy possessed 55.6% resistance to streptomycin, 11.1% to cephalothin, and 5.6% to imipenem. Notably, a single isolate (S. Infantis) displayed multidrug resistance (MDR) to tetracycline, enrofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, nalidixic acid, and streptomycin.

31Additionally, another investigation established a significant link between the isolation of ceftiofur-resistant S. Heidelberg from chickens and subsequent clinical infections in humans caused by the same bacterial strain. Likewise, another study underscored the elevated prevalence of AMR strains, including S. Bredeney, S. Kentucky, and S. Enteritidis, as prominent AMR variants identified in chicken meat. These strains displayed resistance against rifampicin, tetracycline, and oxyclozanide.

32Probiotics are a group of non-pathogenic microorganisms that can confer health benefits to the host when administered sufficiently. According to FAO/WHO regulations, for probiotics to be used as therapeutic or prophylactic agents, they are required to fulfill specific criteria such as safety margin, efficacy, immunomodulatory capabilities, ability to effectively colonize the intestinal epithelium, resistance to bile salts and low pH conditions, as well as maintaining phenotypic and genetic stability. Probiotics have different mechanisms of action (Figure 2) that include (i) improving the intestinal barrier and gut mucosal integrity, (ii) enhancing intestinal immunity, (iii) reducing the colonization of intestinal pathogens, (iv) maintaining the balance between pathogenic and beneficial microbes in the gastrointestinal tract, and (v) competitive exclusion and secretion of antibacterial substances or metabolites such as bacteriocins that suppress the growth of pathogenic microorganisms, stimulating mucous secretion by intestinal goblet cells to limit epithelial invasion by pathogens and the production of minerals, enzymes, and trace elements. Each probiotic strain has different properties and clinical effects on the host. Probiotics are classified as mono-strain or single-strain probiotics (SSP), multi-strain probiotics (MSP), and multi-species probiotics. Single-strain probiotics (SSP) can provide limited health benefits to the host. Probiotics containing multiple groups of bacteria with different mechanisms of action tend to have synergistic effects on each other and have a broad spectrum of activity. For insistence, the MSP of Bacillus amyloliquefacrem, Enterococcus hirae, and Lysinibacillus fusiformis was able to significantly inhibit the growth and biofilm formation of Aeromonas hydrophila compared to the individual probiotics. Multi-species probiotics (L. reuteri, E. faecium, B. animalis, P. acidilactici, and L. salivarius) greatly reduce S. Enteritidis infections (up to 2.7 log reduction) in poultry.

33Several studies have shown that probiotics can profoundly affect the growth and virulence of Salmonella in humans and animals. These effects include preventing adhesion and invasion of the bacteria into the intestinal epithelial cells, alteration in the expression of virulence genes, modulation of the host immune system through enhancing the cytokines’ expression, intestinal permeability, and increasing intestinal villi height. It was reported that Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria are the most common probiotics used against Salmonella and are present as normal gut microflora in the host. Many studies have demonstrated that using single strains of probiotics individually and in combination can show high efficacy in Salmonella-infected hosts (Table 2). For example, L. salivarius CTC2197 alone completely inhibited S. Enteritidis C-114 from the gut of a leghorn chicken 21 days post-infection. Similarly, L. reuteri R-17485 alone demonstrated more than 1 log reduction, whereas L. johnsonii R-17504 demonstrated a 2 log reduction in cecal Salmonella count in Lohmann White laying hens. Another study demonstrated that probiotic L. plantarum caused a 2.1 log reduction in cecal S. Heidelberg in broiler chicken 168 h post-infection. In addition to this, other probiotics such as E. faecium NCIMB 11181 demonstrated a reduction in colonization and translocation of Salmonella in liver tissue by 2.2 log and cecal content by 4.2 log in infected birds pretreated with E. faecium. Similarly, S. boulardii demonstrated enhanced survival of the probiotic-treated mice (70%) compared to 40% in untreated ones, with reduced translocation of Salmonella to the liver.

34On the other hand, the combination of different Lactobacillus strains, including L. murinus, L. salivarius, L. pentosus, and P. pentosaceous, demonstrated up to 99% inhibition in Salmonella colonization in pigs, whereas the combination of other strains, such as L. reuteri R-17485, L. johnsonii R-17504, and L. vaginalis R-17362, demonstrated up to two-fold reduction in Salmonella cecal counts in chickens. Furthermore, the combination of the probiotic Lactobacillus with other species such as Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, Bifidobacterium animalis, Clostridium butyricum, or Saccharomyces cervisae has a synergistic action with a significant inhibition (up to 95%) of Salmonella colonization in poultry and mice. Several different experiments demonstrate that the combination of either two or more probiotics for treating Salmonella can have synergistic effects and may become more effective in inhibiting growth and colonization in the host (Table 2).

35However, the use of probiotics for the treatment of infectious diseases, including Salmonella, presents itself as a multifaceted approach, and further studies need to be conducted to determine whether their efficacy is contingent upon strain-specific factors of the pathogen or influenced by variables such as probiotic dosage, administration method, treatment duration, host characteristics (including age), and other management-related factors. Moreover, there is a pressing concern regarding the clinical applications of probiotics, which includes issues such as the shelf life that may impact the viability of probiotic strains, their ability to withstand the conditions of the gastrointestinal tract, the potential for acquiring virulence or resistance genes from pathogenic or opportunistic organisms, the capacity of specific probiotic strains to transfer antibacterial resistance genes within the gastrointestinal tract, and the possibility of some probiotic strains like B. subtilis secreting toxic substances which can potentially induce food poisoning.

36Prebiotics are defined as the non-digestible components that undergo selective fermentation, resulting in targeted modifications to the composition and behavior of the gastrointestinal microbiota. When the microbiota utilizes these components, they contribute to beneficial effects on the health of the host. Prebiotics are usually combined with probiotics in commercial products and are known as: “Synbiotics, beneficial microorganisms with selective substrates”. This combination has great therapeutic efficacy against various animal and human diseases. Several prebiotic compounds are available, including fructooligosaccharides (FOS), galactooligosaccharides (GOS), mannan-oligosaccharides (MOS), xylooligosaccharides (XOS), transgalactic-oligosaccharides (TGOS), arabinoxylo-oligosaccharides, lactulose, and inulin. The human digestive enzymes do not normally digest these compounds but they could be introduced into the diet in certain quantities to stimulate the gut microbiota, which, in turn, can provide the host with the essential nutrients and energy. The mechanism of action of prebiotics can be summarized into direct and indirect pathways. The indirect pathway is through nourishing beneficial gut flora and maintaining gut health, thereby conferring health benefits to the host, whereas the direct pathway acts through the inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms and reduces the risk of infection with infectious pathogens. Several studies have been conducted to determine the protective effects of probiotics and prebiotics in experimental animals, including poultry infected with Salmonella. For example, it was reported that the administration of B. subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, and mannan-oligosaccharide revealed a significant (up to 2 logs) reduction in S. Enteritidis colonization in layers of ovaries and the intestine. Similarly, chickens administered with inulin and oligofructose had up to a four-log reduction in cecal Salmonella counts possibly due to the effect of administered prebiotics on the pH and the level of produced volatile fatty acids. Similar results were reported on the supplementation of broiler chickens with 0.75% oligofructose, where a four-fold reduction in cecal Salmonella counts was demonstrated. Furthermore, the dietary supplementation of broiler chickens with fructooligosaccharides demonstrated a log reduction in intestinal colonization and count of S. Typhimurium. Similarly, feeding broiler chickens with a combination of prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides) and probiotics (B. animalis, L. reuteri, P. acidilactici, and E. faecium), as well as prebiotics with antibiotics, resulted in decreased S. Enteritidis load by 1.4 and 1.5 log units/mL of carcass rinse and 0.90 and 0.85 log units/g of cecal contents, respectively. In another study, the treatment of S. Enteritidis challenged turkey poults with Lactobacillus spp. And dietary lactose (0.1%) revealed significant improvement in body weight and feed conversion ratio with a 2 log reduction in cecal S. Enteritidis count. Furthermore, a study for the evaluation of the effectiveness of synbiotics alone or in combination with organic acids on carcass and cecal Salmonella load in challenged one-day-old broiler chicks revealed a 0.34 to 0.58 log reduction in the Salmonella cecal contents compared to the controls, whereas no difference was observed between the dietary treatments. Similarly, the treatment combination of synbiotics with organic acids revealed a 1.7 log reduction in carcass bacterial count, whereas a 1.3 and 0.53 log reduction was observed in Salmonella loaded with synbiotics alone and synbiotics combined with organic acids, respectively. Nevertheless, some studies have demonstrated no effect of prebiotics in protective efficacy against and susceptibility to pathogenic infections. For example, S. Typhimurium translocation in the liver, mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and intestine have been increased, with an approximate 1.6–1.8 mean CFU in mice fed on a diet containing 10% of fructooligosaccharide, xylooligosaccharides, or apple pectin. Similarly, no effect was observed in the production of anti-Salmonella antibodies in birds challenged with S. Enteritidis or broiler chickens fed with a combination of probiotics (Lac XCL 5x™) and prebiotics (MOS). Furthermore, another study demonstrated that no anti-Salmonella effect was seen in birds tested for the symbiotic effect of B. longum, and L. rhamnosus combined with oligofructose-enriched inulin on S. Typhimurium-challenged pigs. In addition to this, evaluation of the efficacy of probiotics alone (L. acidophilus, B. subtilis, L. casei, B. longum, and E. faecium), prebiotics alone (fructooligosaccharide, inulin, oligosaccharide, and mannanoligosaccharide), and synbiotics (combined pro- and prebiotics) on S. Enteritidis challenged one-day-old layer and broiler chicks and concluded that the group of chicks supplemented with prebiotics only demonstrated a higher reduction in SE colonization (3 log reduction) when compared to groups supplemented with probiotics alone or synbiotics alone. Hence, prebiotics play a vital role in maintaining gut health, linked to a range of health advantages like better digestion, synergistic actions along with the gut microbiota and supplemented probiotics, exclusion of pathogens, and improved growth performance.

37Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a diverse group of small peptides that are an essential part of the innate immune system of different organisms. The updated AMPs database reports more than 3569 AMPs identified, most of which originated from bacteria, followed by animals, plants, fungi, protists, and archaea. There are several types of AMPs with various numbers of amino acid residues ranging from 10 to 60 amino acids, most of which are cationic, and some are non-cationic AMPs. AMPs have two mechanisms of action: membrane-targeting and non-membrane-targeting mechanisms. The membrane-targeting mechanism can be classified into three models: (1) carpet-like model in which AMPs are arranged parallel to the cell membrane like a carpet and destroy the pathogen’s membrane, (2) the barrel-stave model in which AMPs aggregate with each other and penetrate the membrane bilayer, forming channels that cause cytoplasmic leakage, thus resulting in cell death and, (3) the toroidal pore model through which AMPs are vertically embedded in the cell membrane and bend to form a ring hole.

38The non-membrane-targeting mechanism can be classified according to the targets by which AMPs act after entering the cytoplasm, which includes (i) protein biosynthesis inhibition, (ii) nucleic acid biosynthesis inhibition, (iii) inhibition of metabolic activities, and (iv) inhibition of DNA replication and cell division. In addition to the broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties of AMPs, they are potential antibiotic substitutes with a low probability of developing AMR strains.

39Several studies have evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of AMPs against foodborne pathogens including Salmonella. These studies evaluate their efficacy on immune regulation, growth performance, and intestinal microbiota in different animal species. For example, Festa et al. demonstrated the in vitro effect of peptide 1018-K6 against S. enterica (1 × 103 cfu/mL) with a Minimum inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of 8–64 μg/mL and 16–128 μg/mL, respectively, and the sub inhibitory dose significantly reduced the biofilm formation of S. Enteritidis. In vitro, evaluation of the effect of novel AMP “A11” modified from acidocin J1132β against S. Typhimurium demonstrated a complete inhibitory effect of A11 against S. Typhimurium, with an MIC ranging from 15.6 to 125 µg/mL. Similarly, the screening of six different AMPs (KLK and KLK1) derived from flesh fly larva, BmKn-2, and BmKn-22 derived from scorpion venom, and Pug-1 and Pug-4 derived from pomegranate fruit), against eight multidrug-resistant Salmonella isolates showed that BmKn-2 derived from scorpion venom has the highest and most potent antibacterial activity against all isolates and the highest inhibition of Salmonella biofilm formation compared with other peptides. Another in vitro study determining the antimicrobial activity of the modified thermostable cathelicidin-derived peptide, P7, against drug-resistant S. Typhimurium showed that P7 decreased the S. Typhimurium viable cells to more than 103 and 104 cfu/mL within 2 to 4 h, respectively, and also demonstrated complete clearance of Salmonella 24 h post incubation. Furthermore, it was reported that AMP (Microcin J25) could significantly reduce the infection rate of Salmonella CVCC519 by approximately 30% in challenged Arbor Acres male broiler chickens at day 42 compared to non-treated birds. Moreover, the AMP (Microcin J25) secreted by ECN has been recorded to lower the in vitro growth of S. Enteritidis on agar plates and also resulted in a 25× reduction in S. Enteritidis count and colonization in turkey cecum. Similarly, an investigation determining the efficacy of AMP (HJH-3) in challenged chickens with S. Pullorum demonstrated a more than 48-fold reduction in total bacteria in the spleen of the HJH-3 group compared to the non-treated group. Yeom et al. also reported that AMP (C-terminally hexahistidine-tagged A3-APO) loaded onto gold nanoparticle DNA conjugate completely inhibited and eliminated intracellular S. Typhimurium in challenged mice, resulting in 100% survival of infected mice. Two AMPs (IK12 and TS10) were compared for their efficacy against S. enterica in fish, and the results demonstrated that AMP (IK12) exhibited a significant inhibition zone (20 ± 1 mm) against S. enterica at a concentration of 625 μg/mL, while concentrations of 1000 μg/mL and 2500 μg/mL decreased the Salmonella load up to 6 log. In addition to this, the treatment of S. Typhimurium-challenged mice with AMP (Css54) demonstrated that Css54 can inhibit S. Typhimurium growth at a concentration of 6.25 μg/mL, while complete bactericidal activity can be obtained at a concentration of 25 µg/mL. Similarly, supplementing S. Enteritidis-challenged female laying chicks with two different doses of AMP (Ctx(Ile21)-Ha) at the rate of 20–40 mg/kg feed for 28 days revealed a reduced mortality rate in young chickens by 69%; however, no difference in the mortality rate was observed even after increasing the Ctx(Ile21)-Ha dose concentration. Maiti et al. demonstrated that avian defensin 7 (AvBD7) significantly reduced S. Typhimurium load in the liver (80% reduction) of treated mice 24 h post-infection in intraperitoneally challenged mice. In addition to this, evaluating the efficacy of two human β-defensins (hBD-1 and hBD-2) in mice challenged intraperitoneally with S. Typhi demonstrated the 50% lethal doses of hBD-1 and hBD-2 to be 0.36 and 0.38 μg/μL respectively, with a significant reduction in Salmonella load in the peritoneal fluid, spleen, and liver of treated mice whether hBD-1 and hBD-2 is delivered individually or in combination. A study to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of three gallinacin AMPs (GALL 4, 7, 9) against S. enteritidis revealed that the antimicrobial potency was in the following peptide order (Gall 9 > 4 > 7), with a synergistic action observed between Gall 7 and 9, whereas an in vivo study in non-domesticated fowl demonstrated no significant effect in the expression of gal4 or gall9.

40The capacity of AMPs to effectively target a wide range of bacterial pathogens, including Salmonella, holds significant promise in addressing the persistent problem of AMR strains. Nonetheless, despite their immense potential, several obstacles, such as the bacteria’s ability to develop resistance to these compounds and potential toxicity to host cells, pose significant challenges in developing them as alternatives to antibiotics. Thus, it becomes imperative to embark on further research to gain a more profound understanding of the precise mechanisms by which AMPs operate, improving their bioavailability and allowing us to devise cost-effective methods for their production. This holistic approach is essential to harnessing the full potential of AMPs as alternatives to traditional antibiotics and addressing the pressing global concerns surrounding AMR strains.

41Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses with the unique capability to infect bacteria. A bacteriophage consists of a protein capsid housing containing DNA or RNA as its nucleic acid core. They can undergo replication within the bacterial cell through two distinct cycles: the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle. (1) The lytic cycle is when a bacteriophage takes control of a bacterial cell and replicates itself, causing the lysis of the bacteria. This process involves the bacteriophage reprogramming the host cell, transforming it into a phage-replicating unit, leveraging its ribosomes and ATP resources normally employed for the host’s benefit to its advantage. Phage-specified proteins that are translated after the host cell infection from phage mRNA can reprogram these energetic pathways in the bacteria. When the host cell is lysed, all of the bacteriophages are released into the environment, allowing them to infect a new host cell. (2) A lysogenic cycle is very similar to the lytic, except that the phages replicate and pass themselves onto the bacterial daughter cells without killing the bacteria. Bacteriophages cannot infect and replicate within human or animal cells; instead, they exclusively target bacterial cells.

42The effectiveness of phages in the treatment of bacterial infections depends on factors such as the phage’s form and type, the level of lytic activity, and the method and timing of administration. Different researchers have demonstrated that the use of phages over a long period has been effective in reducing Salmonella in the digestive tract. The mode of administration includes oral administration by mixing with water or feed, spraying the surface of the eggs, or by the addition of bacteriophage suspension directly into infected products. Henriques et al. demonstrated that administrating phages through aerosol spray during the transfer of eggs from incubators to hatchers can be a cost-effective and efficient method to reduce the horizontal transmission of Salmonella in poultry. Bacteriophage treatment is a novel strategy for providing prophylactic treatment against poultry pathogens including Salmonella. It can be used safely without altering the gut microbiota. Wattana et al. demonstrated that the novel Salmonella phages showed a significantly high bacterial lysis effect (93.3%) on ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella strains in broilers.

43Furthermore, Spricigo et al. demonstrated that the use of three Salmonella-phage cocktails (UAB_Phi 20, UAB_Phi78, and UAB_Phi87) showed two log reductions in pig skin and lettuce and one log reduction in Salmonella count in chicken breast contaminated with the bacteria. In addition, the administration of five Salmonella-phase cocktails demonstrated an up to 3.1 log-reduction reduction in Salmonella count in contaminated raw chicken breast. The complete list of bacteriophages used in treating Salmonella infection is shown in Table 3.

44While phage therapy holds promise in combatting MDR pathogens like Salmonella, it does come with certain limitations. These limitations include the phages’ narrow host spectrum, which restricts their effectiveness to specific bacterial genera, the potential development of bacterial resistance through CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity against commonly encountered bacteriophages, and the lack of comprehensive data on the pharmacokinetic properties of these viruses. Additionally, there are concerns about the adverse effects of bacterial toxins released during the phage-mediated lysis process. These factors collectively challenge the widespread adoption and efficacy of phage therapy in clinical settings. Despite these disadvantages, ongoing research and development are exploring ways to harness the potential of bacteriophages and use them against bacterial pathogens like Salmonella for both prophylactic and therapeutic purposes.

45Small molecules (SMs) are low-molecular-weight compounds that can be directed to specific cellular processes of bacterial physiology to perform a broad to narrow spectrum of activity and can be used as growth inhibitors or virulence inhibitors. These molecules can be obtained from natural sources or be synthesized. The natural compounds may include phytochemicals, including fruit extracts (grape seed extract), plant extracts (punicalagin), spice oils (thyme, basil, rosemary, ginger, garlic), and phenolic compounds such as Gallo tannins, coumarins (furocoumarin), benzoates, and terpenes (monoterpenes, diterpenes, and triterpenes). The synthetic compounds may include furanone, chitosan, thiophene inhibitors, and limonene nanoemulsion. Different studies evaluating the effect of small molecules on the growth and virulence of Salmonella are demonstrated in Table 4. For example, Li et al. demonstrated that using Quercitrin, a flavonoid with antioxidant properties, significantly inhibited the adhesion, invasion, and survival of Salmonella in HeLa cell lines by about 70%. Similarly, Deblais et al. and Rajashekara et al., in two different independent experiments, demonstrated that the compounds imidazole and methoxybenzylamine were able to cause complete clearance of S. Typhimurium in vitro in Caco-2 cells with minimal toxicity to chicken RBC. Furthermore, another study conducted by Jacob et al. demonstrated that compound 7955004 can cause 55% inhibition of preformed biofilms, with complete clearance of planktonic S. Typhimurium in vitro. Similarly, Nagy et al. demonstrated an up to 2 log reduction in the colonization of S. Typhimurium in the spleen and liver 48 h post-infection in mice. These compounds have demonstrated their effectiveness in disrupting crucial bacterial processes, including metabolism, virulence factor inhibition, and infection prevention, which positions them as a viable alternative to antibiotics for managing Salmonella infections. Consequently, they provide a versatile and precisely targeted strategy for controlling this bacterium. However, the intricate nature of Salmonella, its adaptability, and its potential to develop resistance to these molecules emphasize the imperative need for ongoing research and refinement of these compounds. In summary, small molecules possess the ability to inhibit the growth and virulence of Salmonella without the inherent risk of developing antibiotic resistance, thus positioning them as important candidates for the development of antibiotic-alternative therapeutics.

46Quorum sensing (QS) is a bacterial cell-to-cell communication process that is regulated by the production, release, and uptake of particular signal molecules known as autoinducers (AI). It is a complex inter/intra-species process that allows a bacterium to carry out colony-wide functions such as biofilm formation, bioluminescence, sporulation, conjugation, and expression of the virulence factors. Gram-negative bacteria like Salmonella produce autoinducers called autoinducer-2 (AI-2), a furanosyl borate diester that is found in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Unlike Gram-positive bacteria, which use the LuxI gene that codes with the AHL molecule to activate the transcription of the LuxICDBAE operon to produce bioluminescence, Salmonella lacks the LuxI gene encoded in their genome. Salmonella instead uses the LuxR homolog called SdiA to produce AI-2 molecules and regulate the expression of virulence genes. These genes serve specific functions in facilitating host invasion and colonization, developing antibiotic resistance, evading complement systems, expressing fimbriae, and producing anti-phagocytic factors. Therefore, the inhibition of LuxS and AI-2 activity can offer a promising strategy to decrease the virulence of Salmonella. Quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs), which include small molecules, natural extracts, and oils, are increasingly being considered as promising alternatives to antibiotics for salmonellosis. By disrupting quorum sensing, QSIs can effectively interfere with various colony-wide bacterial activities, including the formation of biofilms, the production of virulence factors, and the development of antibiotic resistance. Unlike antibiotics, the QSIs inhibit the microbial quorum or prevent forming a quorum rather than exerting selection pressure and interfering with the cellular and metabolic process, thus making the bacteria less likely to develop resistance. The QSIs were also reported to show high efficacy in vitro when combined with small molecules’ growth inhibitors. Several studies have been conducted on compounds that can inhibit QS and AI-2 production by downregulating QS-associated genes and inhibiting the virulence of Salmonella (Table 4). For example, the use of punicalagin led to a reduction in motility and the downregulation of the QS-related genes flhC, sdiA, and srgE in S. Typhimurium; carvacrol, thymol, and eugenol downregulated the genes associated with host colonization, such as flgG, fimD, sopB, and invH, as well as genes related to macrophage survival like ssaV and pipB in S. Enteritidis; and furanone caused significant downregulation of QS-associated genes like sdiA and srgE in S. Typhimurium in vitro. Similarly, dephostatin and homocysteine thiolactone are capable of downregulating QS-regulated spiA genes responsible for the adhesion and invasion of Salmonella to the host cells. In addition, fluorothiazinon, fusaric acid, and cytosporone B have been found to inhibit the QS-regulated Type-3 secretion system apparatus, which is responsible for host cell adhesion and invasion. In summary, QSIs offer significant promise as alternative strategies for managing Salmonella infections in humans and animals. Their capacity to interfere with bacterial communication, hinder the establishment of infections, evade host immune responses, and cause disease without impacting bacterial growth highlights their potential as valuable targets for developing antibiotic-alternative therapeutics to combat MDR Salmonella infections in both human and animal populations. However, it is essential to acknowledge the challenges associated with QSIs. Achieving high specificity to target a single bacterial species without affecting the normal microbiota can be challenging. Furthermore, our understanding of QS mechanisms in various pathogenic bacteria still needs to be broadened. Ensuring the bioavailability and effective delivery of QSIs to complex environments like biofilms within the host body presents a significant hurdle. Additionally, the high cost and time required for QSI development pose practical challenges in their widespread use as therapeutic agents.

47Vaccines are preparations of antigens or a part of the pathogen which, when administered to a host, can safely induce an immune response against infection by specific pathogens upon future exposure, thereby preventing severe infections. Vaccines mimic the natural infection without causing severe illness, enabling the body to build immunity against diseases, helping prevent infection, reducing the severity of the infection, and lowering the risk of complications and transmission to others. Vaccines help reduce the incidence of infectious diseases worldwide including fowl (avian) cholera, coronavirus, anthrax, polio, norovirus, Rift Valley fever, and rabies. The mode of action of vaccines depends on their formulations. For example, (1) Live attenuated vaccines contain a weakened, live version of the pathogen, capable of eliciting an immune response without causing disease. The purpose of attenuation is to eliminate pathogen’s infectivity but preserve their immunogenicity. These vaccines can effectively stimulate humoral and secretory antibodies, as well as activate cytotoxic T-cells; (2) Killed-whole-cell vaccines are the vaccines in which the pathogens are killed but maintain their epitope structures intact to preserve their immunogenicity, while simultaneously eliminating their capacity to replicate or cause disease; (3) Toxoid vaccines are a type of vaccine in which a pathogen’s toxin is purified and subjected to formalin treatment to deactivate its harmful effects but retains its immunogenicity against the associated pathogen; (4) Subunit vaccines are a class of vaccines which contain fragments of the pathogen, such as polysaccharides, nucleic acids, or proteins like flagellin or synthetic peptides; (5) Outer membrane vesicle (OMV) vaccines are made up of naturally discharged constituents of OMVs from the bacterial outer membrane, featuring vital antigenic elements capable of eliciting an immune response without triggering any illness; (6) Protein-polysaccharide conjugate vaccines consist of bacterial polysaccharides which are bound to proteins that enable a desired immune response. These vaccines induce polysaccharide-specific B-cell immunity, help prevent colonization, and block person-person transmission, thus generating herd immunity; (7) Recombinant viral and bacterial vector vaccines employ non-pathogenic viruses or bacteria as vectors to deliver genetic information encoding the antigens of the pathogen into the host cells, which subsequently elicits the immune response; (8) Nanovaccines are an innovative class of vaccines that employ nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers or adjuvants. These nanoparticles enable precise targeting of the specific site where the disease originated, distinguishing them from vaccines that exert systemic effects.

48Currently, two different forms of vaccines are widely available to control typhoid and paratyphoid fever in humans. These vaccines are available in the form of orally administered live-attenuated Ty21a vaccine and injectable Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccine. Ty21a vaccine has an efficacy of 51% in adults and children above 5 years with high cross-protection against both S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi B. The vaccine has been reported to develop IgA antibody response and mediate CD4+ T-cell mediated antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi. Antibody-dependent enhanced phagocytosis of S. Typhi has also been reported in orally administrated Ty21a vaccines. MacLennan et al. and Wahid et al. have separately reported robust production of T-cell-mediated immune stimulation, with increased production of IgA antibodies. They have also reported cross-reactive immunity against S. Typhi (56%) and S. Paratyphi (38%). Different from Ty21a, the Vi capsular polysaccharide vaccine acts through the activation of T-cell-independent IgG antibody production and has an efficacy of 55%, with cumulative immunity up to 3 years through a single dose. The administration of a S. Typhi Vi polysaccharide with the tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (Tybar) vaccine has shown to have an efficacy of up to 85% in children under the age of 2 years, with a high increase in T-cell-independent IgG production. Similarly, another Vi-polysaccharide based Vi Conjugate (Vi-CRM197) and Vi Conjugate (Vi-rEPA) vaccine has demonstrated up to 90% efficacy in children and a similar increase in IgG production lasting up to 4 years post-vaccination against S. Typhi. In addition to this, other forms of vaccines are also available or are currently in development (Table 5). For example, Lyon et al. found that the administration of a single-dose independently attenuated deletion S. Typhi (Ty2ΔaroCΔssaV) ZH9 vaccine produced complete fecal clearance of S. Typhi 7 days post-infection, with rapid and high production of S. Typhi-specific IgG and IgA production. Similarly, a new formulation of vaccines, Generalized Modules for Membrane Antigens (GMMA), containing bacterial surface immunogens such as LPS, has shown increased production and stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and elicit production of strong bacteriocidal anti-LPS O-antibody and IgG antibody with complete clearance of S. Typhimurium, S. Typhi, and S. Paratyphi A. Furthermore, the modified live S. Dublin vaccine (EnterVene-d) has shown increased cell-mediated, humoral, and mucosal immunity against S. Dublin in cattle with antibody titer, increased by 49% in vaccinated cows and by 88.56% in calves from the vaccinated cows, demonstrating substantial horizontal transfer. Several vaccines have been developed to prevent Salmonella infections in poultry. Renu et al. have demonstrated that the oral administration of a chitosan-adjuvanted Salmonella subunit nanoparticle vaccine containing outer membrane proteins (OMPs), and flagellins (F) coated with nanoparticles (NPs) can cause significant stimulation of gut mucosal immunity upregulating TLRs, Th1, and Th2 cytokine mRNA, with increased production of OMPs-specific IgY and IgA antibodies in saliva and intestine. Similarly, the commercially available modified-live S. Typhimurium vaccine (Poulvac® ST; Zoetis Inc., Parsippany, NJ, USA), one of the most effective poultry vaccines commercially available, has demonstrated an up to 50% reduction in S. Kentucky, S. Enteritidis, S. Heidelberg, S. Typhimurium, and S. Hadar in the liver and spleen. Another trivalent but inactivated Salmonella enterica vaccine (Nobilis® Salenvac T; Intervet International B.V., Boxmeer, The Netherlands) has shown an up to 3.9 log increase in mean antibody titer after the administration of the booster dose in chicken, along with a 2.6 log reduction in cecal shedding of S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis, followed by a 1.3 log reduction in S. Infantis. Unfortunately, due to the presence of variations in the cellular structures and antigens between the typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonella species, the technology used in typhoid vaccine development has not benefited the development of a vaccine against non-typhoidal Salmonella species.

49While vaccines have played a pivotal role in mitigating the severity of infections, progress in the development of vaccines against Salmonella has been limited. One of the primary challenges is the extensive genetic variability among Salmonella serovars, each possessing distinct surface antigens. This variability poses a significant obstacle to creating effective Salmonella vaccines. Additionally, various other factors contribute to the difficulty faced in Salmonella vaccine development. These include the risk of vaccine failure due to improper handling, the potential for live-attenuated vaccines to regain virulence after administration, the development of tolerance to toxoids when high doses are used in toxoid vaccines, and the relatively low immunogenicity of outer membrane vesicle vaccines. These combined factors collectively have limited the progress in the field of Salmonella vaccine development. Considering these limitations, it is crucial to emphasize the necessity of ongoing research in vaccine development. Vaccines have undeniably established themselves as fundamental pillars of public health, offering substantial advantages in preventing and mitigating infectious diseases. The efforts should focus on creating more effective vaccines and addressing the complexities associated with specific pathogens, variable immune responses, and the ever-evolving nature of infectious diseases. In doing so, we can harness the full potential of vaccines as vital tools in safeguarding public health, while simultaneously working to overcome their constraints.

50Organic acids (OAs) are acidic organic compounds, primarily consisting of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Organic acids are typically produced by the native gut microbiota residing in the intestines of animals, as well as in crops and within the ceca of birds. These compounds exert antimicrobial activities, like restraining the growth and colonization of pathogenic bacteria in the gut, by reducing the pH within microbial cytoplasm, disrupting energy production and regulation, and causing the accumulation of dissociated acid ions to toxic levels inside microbial cells. This improves digestibility, gut health, and immunity. They also hold significant importance in the animal production industry. Traditionally, they have been employed as fungistats in the animal food industry and have demonstrated strong antibacterial properties against foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella. They are primarily used in the form of salts, either monocarboxylic acids like acetic, butyric, formic, and propionic acids, or based on the side chains available.

51The short-chain fatty acids encompass organic acids like formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid, along with acids containing additional hydroxyl (OH) groups such as citric, lactic, malic, and tartaric acids, whereas, the medium-chain fatty acids include organic acids like caproic acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, and lauric acid. Several studies have indicated that MCFAs can have more potent effects compared to SCFAs, but it is important to distinguish between their bactericidal and bacteriostatic activities. For example, caprylic acids and capric acids, which are known as MCFAs, exhibited bactericidal properties and completely cleared Salmonella Enteritidis in vitro compared to other organic acids at the same concentration. Similarly, MCFAs C6 and C10 had bacteriostatic effects on S. Enteritidis at a concentration of 25 mM, whereas the same strain showed complete resistance to 100 mM of SCFAs.

52Organic acids can significantly impact the growth of and colonization by enteric pathogens like Salmonella within the host and in the host’s feed products. Koyuncu et al. demonstrated a significant reduction (up to 2.5 log) in the numbers of S. Infantis, S. Putten, S. Senftenberg, and S. Typhimurium in mash and rapeseed feed containing formic acid, propionic acid, and sodium formate. Moreover, the combination of propionic acid and sodium formate was more efficacious. Similarly, dietary supplementation of a combination of organic acid mixture of formic acids and sodium formate in broiler chicken showed a significant (1.5 logs) reduction in the cecal colonization of S. Typhimurium. Furthermore, Ruhnke et al. also demonstrated that the use of formic acids (1 kg/ton), or propionic acid (5 kg/ton) as feed additives in broiler chicken can cause low cecal retention (35%) of S. Typhimurium compared to the control group (60%) at 6 weeks of age. Moreover, a significant reduction (up to 90%) in fecal Salmonella shedding in pigs was observed 7 days post-exposure after supplementation with sodium butyrate, formic, and citric acid as acidifiers. Additionally, the normal gut microflora and oral supplementation of probiotics and prebiotics was shown to stimulate the production of short-chain fatty acids in poultry GIT, thus limiting Salmonella colonization, causing complete clearance of the bacteria and modulation of gut immunity in mice. It was also demonstrated that lactic acid bacteria can work synergistically in lowering the gut pH and modulating the gut immunity in 160-day-old broiler chicken.

53While organic acids have shown promise in antimicrobial drug development and pathogen inhibition, notable concerns and limitations exist associated with their utilization. The most significant limitation is the dissociation of the organic acids and their ability to reach the lower portion of the gastrointestinal tract. The organic acids are digested and metabolized, and, as a result, the concentration is decreased, leading to dissociation when reaching the lower GIT, which is the primary site for Salmonella infection. Resistance is also possible as pathogenic species adapt to treatment. Despite the limitations, it is worth noting that organic acids, indeed, are promising tools for mitigating Salmonella contamination in food. Their application should be considered an integral component of a comprehensive food safety strategy aimed at controlling and preventing foodborne infections, particularly those caused by antibiotic-resistant Salmonella.

54Essential oils (EOs), also referred to as volatile oils, are a mixture of aromatic compounds with characteristic flavors and aromas. They are derived from various plant parts, including stems, flowers, fruits, buds, leaves, and even wood. Essential oils consist of a wide range of compounds such as alcohol, acetones, phenolic acids, terpenes, aldehydes, and esters, which can play a significant role as antimicrobial agents or nutrient supplements. For example, citrus based EOs comprises more than 2000 different types of organic compounds. Essential oils exist in a highly bioactive vapor phase and typically do not require physical contact with the pathogen to demonstrate antimicrobial action. In plants, they also play significant role in protecting against bacterial, viral, or fungal infections and help attract insects that can directly help in the pollination process. Essential oils possess numerous therapeutic properties for humans and animals, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, spasmolytic, and insect repellent. Moreover, they have long been utilized in aromatherapy to promote relaxation, stabilize moods, and provide physical and psychological relief. These compounds are regularly used in the food industry as preservatives for preventing the growth of foodborne bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria, and Campylobacter.

55Essential oils have been used as antimicrobial compounds and food preservatives to control Salmonella. It has been reported that EOs like cinnamon oils result in a 2.7 log reduction in S. Typhimurium and can have synergistic effects in vitro when used with antibiotics such as cefotaxime. Similarly, lemongrass, cinnamon, geraniol, and palmarosa-based EOs against can cause complete clearance of S. Enteritidis in fruit juices. Furthermore, in vitro, assessment of the antimicrobial effect of C. zelanicum and S. aromaticum against the Salmonella enterica serotypes Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium from poultry demonstrated a high inhibitory effect, with MIC ranging from 1.26 mg/mL to 0.63 mg/mL for C. zelanicum and 2.637 mg/mL to 0.164 mg/mL for S. aromaticum and an MIC of 1.289 mg/mL to 0.322 mg/mL for the mixture of both. However, laurel leaves, cardamom, ginger, and rosemary based EOs had moderate inhibitory activity against different Salmonella serotypes isolated from humans. Similarly, another in vitro study showed that thyme oil had the highest inhibitory effect (22.5–38.5 mm zone of inhibition) against S. Enteritidis, S. Montevideo, and S. Heidelberg, followed by clove oil and rosemary oil, whereas orange oil had no significant inhibitory effect on S. Heidelberg. Also, oregano, thyme, clove, and arborvitae based EOs showed significant inhibitory effects (p < 0.001), with complete clearance of S. Typhimurium at 0.125% with no genotoxic effect on human embryo lung cells after 24 h of administration in vitro. Different studies on evaluating the effect of EOs on the growth of Salmonella are shown in Table 6.

56While EOs have found diverse applications, ranging from feed additives and crop protectants to food preservatives and treatments for human ailments, it is essential to exercise caution when considering their extended utilization due to the potentially toxic effects of these compounds. The widespread use of essential oils has been hindered by their adverse impact on organoleptic characteristics, limited stability under standard environmental conditions, volatility, poor solubility in water, and possible toxicity. Toxicological concerns related to essential oils have been documented, including findings by Millet et al. who reported instances of neurotoxicity and tonic-clonic convulsions in humans due to the use of commercially available extracts from sage, hyssop, thuja, and cedar. Similarly, severe effects, including dermatitis, hospitalizations, and, in severe cases, fatalities have also been reported following aromatherapy using lavender, peppermint, and ylang-ylang. Looking forward, the integration of EOs into a comprehensive food safety strategy demands a holistic and multidisciplinary approach, and further research is essential for their production to guarantee uniform quality, efficacy, and safety.

57Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella pose a formidable challenge to human and animal health and significant economic loss in the healthcare and agricultural sectors worldwide. The widespread use of antibiotics in food animals for growth promotion, therapeutic applications, and preventative measures has played a significant role in the swift rise and global dissemination of AMR Salmonella. Furthermore, the indiscriminate use of antibiotics, particularly in sub-therapeutic doses, has significantly contributed to the rise of MDR strains. The rapid emergence and spread of MDR Salmonella have necessitated the development of alternative strategies for treating and controlling the infection. Addressing the issue of AMR strains calls for a multifaceted strategy involving early detection of infections and the implementation of necessary biosecurity measures to effectively contain outbreaks within the infected individual or the animal farm. Early detection of the infection allows for the timely initiation of appropriate targeted treatment and avoids the need for broad-spectrum antibiotics, which lowers the selective pressure that drives the development and spread of AMR strains in a bacterium. In addition to the early detection of the outbreak, the use of antibiotic-alternative therapeutics holds a promising role in combating AMR strains. Several research efforts have been made to limit the spread of AMR Salmonella by exploring various alternative intervention strategies, including the use of probiotics and prebiotics, antimicrobial peptides, phage therapy, small molecule growth inhibitors, quorum sensing/virulence inhibitors, vaccines, organic acids, and essential oils. These strategies can be used individually or in combination.

58Nonetheless, each alternative approach carries its distinct advantages and limitations. It is crucial to approach them carefully, and additional research is required to ascertain their effectiveness, safety, and viability when implemented on a larger scale. As we transition to a future where traditional treatments like antibiotics could progressively lose efficacy, adopting a contemporary and enhanced strategy is crucial. These strategies involve synergistic application of these antibiotic alternatives, complemented by enhanced biosecurity protocols and judicious antibiotic use. Such a comprehensive approach will prove pivotal in controlling the dissemination of AMR-Salmonella infection. Furthermore, applying a One Health approach and continued collaboration between researchers, healthcare professionals, veterinarians, and policymakers in antibiotic stewardship is crucial in safeguarding public health and food safety from the threat of prevalent foodborne pathogens like MDR Salmonella.