Prevalence of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis
Pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Salmonella</i> spp. and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. are bacteria associated with foodborne diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the prevalence of these pathogens in foods sold across seven East African Community (EAC) countries and iden...
| Autores principales: | , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Journal Article |
| Lenguaje: | Inglés |
| Publicado: |
Elsevier
2026
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| Materias: | |
| Acceso en línea: | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178939 |
| _version_ | 1855522543538012160 |
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| author | Kuboka, Maureen Mutie, Ianetta Artursson, K. Lindahl, Johanna F. Carlsson, G. Mutua, Florence K. Grace, Delia |
| author_browse | Artursson, K. Carlsson, G. Grace, Delia Kuboka, Maureen Lindahl, Johanna F. Mutie, Ianetta Mutua, Florence K. |
| author_facet | Kuboka, Maureen Mutie, Ianetta Artursson, K. Lindahl, Johanna F. Carlsson, G. Mutua, Florence K. Grace, Delia |
| author_sort | Kuboka, Maureen |
| collection | Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace) |
| description | Pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Salmonella</i> spp. and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. are bacteria associated with foodborne diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the prevalence of these pathogens in foods sold across seven East African Community (EAC) countries and identifies key risk factors for contamination. A comprehensive search for peer-reviewed papers and grey literature was conducted in six databases (PubMed, CAB Direct, African Journals Online, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science), as well as 12 online repositories. The review encompassed studies published in English and French between January 2000 and June 2022, adhering to the 2020 guidelines for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Eligible studies employed probabilistic sampling and reported the proportion of contaminated samples. Out of 4134 initial records, 53 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were conducted in Kenya (n = 22) and Tanzania (n = 21), with no eligible studies found for Burundi and South Sudan. <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. were the most frequently studied pathogens, while <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. was less represented. Using a random-effects model in Stata®, pooled prevalence estimates were 41 % for <i>E. coli</i> (95 % CI: 34–52 %), 12 % for <i>Salmonella</i> spp. (95 % CI: 12–27 %), and 9 % for <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. (95 % CI: 7–32 %). Significant heterogeneity was observed and further explored through meta-regression and subgroup analyses. Contamination levels varied by food type, processing status, sample size, and country. Meat, especially poultry, showed the highest prevalence of bacterial contamination across all pathogens. Alarmingly, beverages were also highly contaminated, with <i>E. coli</i> detected in 66.3 % (95 % CI: 31–89 %) and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in 11.8 % (95 % CI: 1–55 %) of samples. Key risk factors included poor hygiene practices, inadequate sanitation, high storage temperatures, and a lack of food safety training. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved food safety measures in the EAC region for improved public health and support trade advancement. The study also highlights critical gaps in surveillance, particularly for <i>Campylobacter</i> spp., pathogenic <i>E. coli</i>, and data from some EAC countries. |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | CGSpace178939 |
| institution | CGIAR Consortium |
| language | Inglés |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| publisherStr | Elsevier |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | CGSpace1789392026-01-22T02:05:37Z Prevalence of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis Kuboka, Maureen Mutie, Ianetta Artursson, K. Lindahl, Johanna F. Carlsson, G. Mutua, Florence K. Grace, Delia food safety Pathogenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Salmonella</i> spp. and <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. are bacteria associated with foodborne diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the prevalence of these pathogens in foods sold across seven East African Community (EAC) countries and identifies key risk factors for contamination. A comprehensive search for peer-reviewed papers and grey literature was conducted in six databases (PubMed, CAB Direct, African Journals Online, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science), as well as 12 online repositories. The review encompassed studies published in English and French between January 2000 and June 2022, adhering to the 2020 guidelines for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Eligible studies employed probabilistic sampling and reported the proportion of contaminated samples. Out of 4134 initial records, 53 studies met the inclusion criteria. Most were conducted in Kenya (n = 22) and Tanzania (n = 21), with no eligible studies found for Burundi and South Sudan. <i>E. coli</i> and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. were the most frequently studied pathogens, while <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. was less represented. Using a random-effects model in Stata®, pooled prevalence estimates were 41 % for <i>E. coli</i> (95 % CI: 34–52 %), 12 % for <i>Salmonella</i> spp. (95 % CI: 12–27 %), and 9 % for <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. (95 % CI: 7–32 %). Significant heterogeneity was observed and further explored through meta-regression and subgroup analyses. Contamination levels varied by food type, processing status, sample size, and country. Meat, especially poultry, showed the highest prevalence of bacterial contamination across all pathogens. Alarmingly, beverages were also highly contaminated, with <i>E. coli</i> detected in 66.3 % (95 % CI: 31–89 %) and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in 11.8 % (95 % CI: 1–55 %) of samples. Key risk factors included poor hygiene practices, inadequate sanitation, high storage temperatures, and a lack of food safety training. These findings underscore the urgent need for improved food safety measures in the EAC region for improved public health and support trade advancement. The study also highlights critical gaps in surveillance, particularly for <i>Campylobacter</i> spp., pathogenic <i>E. coli</i>, and data from some EAC countries. 2026-06 2025-12-17T16:39:29Z 2025-12-17T16:39:29Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178939 en Open Access application/pdf Elsevier Kuboka, M., Mutie, I., Artursson, K., Lindahl, J., Carlsson, G., Mutua, F. and Grace, D. 2026. Prevalence of <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Campylobacter</i> spp. and <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. Food Microbiology 136:105004. |
| spellingShingle | food safety Kuboka, Maureen Mutie, Ianetta Artursson, K. Lindahl, Johanna F. Carlsson, G. Mutua, Florence K. Grace, Delia Prevalence of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title | Prevalence of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Prevalence of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Prevalence of Escherichia coli, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. in the East African Community: a systematic literature review and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | prevalence of escherichia coli campylobacter spp and salmonella spp in the east african community a systematic literature review and meta analysis |
| topic | food safety |
| url | https://hdl.handle.net/10568/178939 |
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