Salmonellosis is an illness caused by Salmonella bacteria. An infection with these bacteria usually affects the gastrointestinal system (the stomach and intestines) in humans. In more severe cases, Salmonella can spread to the blood, the bones, or even to the fluid around the brain, but these types of infection are less common.
There are numerous transmission pathways through which humans can be exposed to Salmonella, including a wide range of domestic and wild animals and a variety of foodstuff’s including food of both animal and plant origin.
Infected animals carry Salmonella in their feces and the usual route of infection is through fecal-oral transmission. The epidemiology of Salmonella is, therefore, primarily due to direct or indirect fecal contamination of live animals, food or humans.
Infections caused by the salmonellae are group into three major syndromes: gastroenteritis, typhoid or enteric fever and localized infection outside of the GI tract.
In developed countries, most cases of Salmonella infections are acquired upon ingestion of contaminated poultry and beef products.
Most cases of typhoid fever occur in the developing world, particular the Indian Subcontinent and South East Asia, but the disease is also endemic elsewhere in Asia and in Africa. The disease is also commonly reported from the Middle East.
Epidemiology of salmonellosis
