Food contamination with non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) presents a significant public health risk, underscoring the critical need for rigorous food safety measures throughout the production, distribution, preparation, and consumption stages. Conventional diagnostic strategies are time-consuming and labor-intensive and are thus sub-optimal for throughput NTS detection. Bacteriophages (phages) are highly specialized bacterial viruses and exhibit extreme specificity for their hosts. This organic phage/bacterial interaction provides an invaluable tool that can potentially replace or complement existing S. enterica detection methods. Here, we explored work in this area and reviewed data from PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and ScienceDirect up to 4 November 2024. Thirty-five studies were selected from 607 retrieved articles using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist to ensure quality. Salmonella enrichment, rapid detection, and effective recovery in diverse food sources for various NTS serovars were targeted. Utilizing phages as bio-probes alongside lateral flow immunoassays, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, fluorescence, and electrochemistry assays enabled rapid and highly sensitive detection of NTS, achieving limits as low as 7 to 8 CFU/mL within 30 min. Balancing detection sensitivity with rapid analysis time is essential. Further research and development will be pivotal to overcoming challenges and maximizing the efficiency of NTS phage-based detection to ensure optimal food safety.
Keywords: Salmonella diagnostics; Salmonella enterica; bacterial detection; bacteriophages; food pathogens; food safety; gastroenteritis.