Major foodborne zoonotic bacteria and their role in antimicrobial resistance

Slavica Vesković Moračanin; Milan Milijašević; Jelena Babić Milijašević; Bojana Danilović; Nevijo Zdolec

doi:10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.74

Slavica Vesković Moračanin Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6904-9510
Milan Milijašević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4269-236X
Jelena Babić Milijašević Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Belgrade, Serbia https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8923-7046
Bojana Danilović University of Niš, Faculty of Technology, Leskovac, Serbia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4444-2746
Nevijo Zdolec University of Zagreb, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7413-8115

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18485/meattech.2025.66.3.74

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, foodborne zoonotic bacteria, global disease burden, One Health

Abstract

Foodborne zoonotic bacteria present a major public health concern worldwide, responsible for hundreds of millions of infections and hundreds of thousands of deaths annually. These organisms not only cause severe illness but are increasingly exhibiting resistance to critically important antimicrobials, limiting treatment options and complicating outbreak control. The rise of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) strains, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, is closely linked to the misuse of antibiotics in both human medicine and food-producing animals. Resistance arises through multiple mechanisms, including enzymatic drug inactivation, target site modification, reduced membrane permeability, efflux pump activation, and the horizontal transfer of resistance genes via mobile genetic elements.

This paper presents an overview of the global burden of foodborne zoonoses, highlighting the prevalence and AMR patterns of major zoonotic bacterial pathogens (Campylobacter spp., Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) across different regions. It also addresses the substantial economic costs associated with these infections. Drawing on recent data from WHO, EFSA, ECDC, CDC, and OECD, the paper underscores the urgent need for coordinated, cross-sectoral strategies. Emphasis is placed on the One Health approach as a comprehensive framework to address the interconnected risks to human, animal, and environmental health. Strengthening surveillance, promoting responsible antimicrobial use, and improving food safety systems are essential to mitigate the growing threat of AMR along the food chain.