Transmission pathways and risk factors for sporadic salmonellosis and campylobacteriosis: a source attribution meta-analysis of European case-control studies
Epidemiology and Infection·
- DOI
- 10.1017/s095026882510023x
- PMID
- 40589406
- PMCID
- PMC12247009
- OpenAlex
- W4411904322
- Study type
- Meta-analysis
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
Findings reinforce poultry as a primary source for both pathogens and highlight the broader role of zoonotic transmission pathways, including environmental and occupational exposures, in European sporadic cases.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
This meta-analysis aimed to estimate transmission pathways and risk factors for sporadic campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis in Europe by pooling population attributable fractions from case-control studies.
Study design
Bayesian meta-analysis of European case-control studies synthesizing population attributable fractions for zoonotic pathogen attribution.
Population and setting
Data from Western or Northern European countries spanning 2000–2021, comprising 12 Campylobacter studies (5983 cases, 13213 controls) and 5 Salmonella studies (2908 cases, 5913 controls).
Main findings
Food- and waterborne transmission explained nearly half of cases for both pathogens; Campylobacter was mainly attributable to poultry meat, while Salmonella was attributable to poultry (eggs and meat) and pig meat. Including animal contact, approximately 60% of cases were linked to zoonotic transmission pathways, with environmental transmission accounting for around 10% and other factors (travel, underlying conditions, person-to-person transmission, occupational exposure) explaining about 25%.
Public-health relevance
Findings reinforce poultry as a primary source for both pathogens and highlight the broader role of zoonotic transmission pathways, including environmental and occupational exposures, in European sporadic cases.
Important limitations
This summary is limited to the supplied single-article abstract/metadata and requires the original paper for decision-grade interpretation. The analysis included only Western or Northern European studies, which may limit generalizability to other regions.
GIDS interpretation
This article provides European attribution estimates for common bacterial foodborne pathogens and could inform source attribution frameworks; it does not directly describe a surveillance signal or outbreak investigation.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 8 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.