The Impact of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Shigella in Diarrheal Infections in Central Africa (1998–2022): A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Gastric diseases caused, in particular, by Campylobacter, non-typhoidal Salmonella, and Shigella resulting from food and/or water problems, are a disproportionately distributed burden in developing countries in Central Africa. The aim of this work was to compile a list of studies establishing the prevalence of the involvement of these bacterial genera in diarrheal syndromes in Central Africa from 1998 to 2022. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Articles for Systemic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, six (6) database (Pubmed, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, Freefullpdf, and Scinapse) were perused for research on the role of Campylobacter, Salmonella and Shigella diarrheal infections in humans and animals, in 9 country of Central Africa over from 1998 to 2022. Results: Seventeen articles were selected, including 16 on humans and one on animals. These data were recorded in 6 of the 9 countries of Central Africa, including Gabon (5), Angola (3), Cameroon (3), the Democratic Republic of Congo (3), Chad (2), and the Central African Republic (1). Mono-infections with Salmonella spp. were the most predominant (55.56%, n = 5/9), followed by an equal proportion of Campylobacter spp. and Shigella spp. with 44.44% (4/9), respectively and, co-infections with Campylobacter/Salmonella spp. and Salmonella/Shigella spp. with a prevalence of 11.11% (1/9) respectively. The most used diagnostic tool was conventional culture (82.35%) against 17.65% for PCR or real-time PCR. Conclusion: Despite the paucity of recorded data on the prevalence of diarrheal infections due to Campylobacter in this sub-region, it is crucial that scientific studies focus on the diagnosis and monitoring of this zoonotic bacterium. Also, improved diagnosis will necessarily involve the integration of molecular tools in the diagnosis of these diarrheic syndromes in both humans and animals.