Campylobacter at the Human-Food Interface: The African Perspective

Area of Science:

• Foodborne Pathogen Epidemiology
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• One Health Approach

Background:

• Campylobacter is a major cause of human gastroenteritis globally, but its burden in Africa is underestimated due to poor surveillance.
• Under-reporting of diarrhea and limited focus on Campylobacter contribute to knowledge gaps in the African context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the occurrence and prevalence of Campylobacter in humans and food sources across Africa.
• To highlight the rising antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter in Africa.
• To emphasize the importance of the human-food-animal interface in Campylobacter epidemiology in Africa.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on Campylobacter occurrence in Africa.
• Analysis of prevalence data in human (paediatric) and animal (poultry) populations.
• Examination of reported antimicrobial resistance patterns.

Main Results:

• Campylobacter prevalence varies significantly across African regions in both children (2-21%) and poultry (14.4-96%).
• Alarming trends of increased resistance to key antimicrobials like ciprofloxacin and erythromycin are evident in humans and food animals.
• Infection is particularly prevalent in the paediatric population and linked to animal food sources, especially poultry.

Conclusions:

• Addressing Campylobacter in Africa requires improved interinstitutional and intersectoral collaboration.
• Adopting a One Health approach is essential to bridge epidemiological knowledge gaps.
• Effective control strategies must consider the human-food-animal interface and rising antimicrobial resistance.