Genoma completo de cepas de Salmonella enterica isoladas de corpos d'água da Paraíba sob impacto agropecuário: diversidade e resistência antimicrobiana

Abstract

Salmonella enterica, a widespread zoonotic foodborne pathogen, remains a significant public health concern and economic burden worldwide. It is estimated that Salmonella spp. cause 93.8 million cases of gastroenteritis worldwide annually, leading to 59,100 deaths. In the United States (US), gastroenteritis caused by non-typhoid Salmonella alone is estimated to affect approximately one million people annually, resulting in approximately $3.7 billion in medical costs. Despite historic containment efforts focused on oral-fecal transmission and quality control in food production, the incidence of Salmonella persists, with concerning outbreaks associated with plant-based foods in recent years. An underestimation of Salmonella in aquatic environments and its potential long-term persistence raises concerns about the role of water in Salmonella epidemiology. Recent studies have shown that Salmonella's ability to remain viable in non-enteric environments is considerably greater than previously believed. Furthermore, Salmonella is not a microbial target for methods typically used to assess water quality. These aspects may point to the possibility that the presence and persistence of Salmonella in aquatic environments may be underestimated. This study investigated the environmental factors that influence Salmonella in natural watersheds used for agricultural and livestock purposes in Paraíba, Brazil. Furthermore, it carried out a survey of the main serovars involved in the contamination of these water resources.