Progress on the prevention of poultry Salmonella with natural medicines
Yi Zhang, Jianglan Liu, Yinan Pan, Kai Shi, Ping Mai, Xiaokai Li, Shasha Shen
Abstract
• Globally, the number of people infected with Salmonella through food can reach 115 million per year. Immunocompromised populations such as children (especially those under 5 years of age), the elderly, and pregnant women are particularly susceptible. • Antibiotic treatment, although effective in controlling Salmonella in poultry, carries a very high risk of environmental pollution. • In this article, we reviewed the advanced strategies of natural medicines against Salmonella infection. • We comprehensively illustrated the research progress and antibacterial mechanisms of natural medicines such as probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, phytobiotics, essential oils, water-soluble plant extracts, and traditional Chinese medicine compounds. • Incorporated with cutting-edge drug delivery methods such as in ovo injection and nanobiomaterials, we proposed the development directions of potential natural anti- Salmonella drugs for poultry. Salmonella infection is an acute and systemic disease of poultry, primarily affecting young birds. The mortality rate of chicken within one week of age can reach up to 40 %. Surviving individuals may become carriers of the bacteria, leading to latent infections that can result in bacterial residues in meat and egg products, posing serious threats to human food safety and health. Antibiotic therapy is one of the most conventional treatments for Salmonella infections in birds. However, the current abuse of antibiotics has accelerated the mutation of pathogenic bacteria to generate antibiotic-resistant strains. Thus, the effectiveness of treatment with antibiotics alone is gradually diminishing. To address this threat, researchers have explored the use of natural products to enhance the immune system of poultry for preventing Salmonella infections. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review, systematically summarizing recent research progress of the application of natural medicines on poultry Salmonella infection.