Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Salmonella in Humans, Animals, and the Environment in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of Salmonella in humans, animals, and environmental sources in Ethiopia. Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen affecting human, animal, and the environment, and antimicrobial-resistant strains pose an increasing threat globally. The review systematically identified and synthesized all relevant published studies from January 2010 to November 2024 reporting prevalence and resistance patterns of Salmonella in Ethiopia. Observational studies, including descriptive and cross-sectional designs, reporting data from humans, animals, or environmental sources were included, while studies conducted outside Ethiopia, published before 2010, or lacking detailed sample source information were excluded. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers using a standardized extraction form, including study characteristics, sample sources, prevalence data, and resistance patterns. Quality assessment of included studies was performed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for Prevalence Studies. Meta-analysis was conducted using a random-effects model to estimate pooled prevalence and resistance proportions, with subgroup analyses and meta-regression to explore sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed using funnel plots, Egger’s test, and Begg’s test, and sensitivity analyses were performed to verify the robustness of the results. This study provides comprehensive and up-to-date national-level evidence on the burden and resistance profile of Salmonella in Ethiopia, which can inform public health strategies, antimicrobial stewardship, and food safety policies.