Epidemiology of Foodborne Pathogens in Europe with Special Emphasis on the Republic of Croatia: A Five-Year Analysis

Authors

  • L. Peinović Laboratory for Food Microbiology, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0005-9845-491X
  • L. Hlebić Laboratory for Food Microbiology, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9496-4192
  • D. Tomašković Laboratory for Food Microbiology, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2009-5997
  • I. Reil Laboratory for Bacterial Zoonoses and Molecular Diagnostics of Bacterial Diseases, Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2198-557X
  • S. Duvnjak Laboratory for Bacterial Zoonoses and Molecular Diagnostics of Bacterial Diseases, Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1308-267X
  • M. Dopuđ Laboratory for Bacterial Zoonoses and Molecular Diagnostics of Bacterial Diseases, Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0495-9861
  • A. Bagarić Laboratory for General Bacteriology and Mycology, Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0002-5567-681X
  • E. Postružin Laboratory for General Bacteriology and Mycology, Department for Bacteriology and Parasitology, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8930-2845
  • A. Humski Laboratory for Food Microbiology, Department for Veterinary Public Health, Croatian Veterinary Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3027-1306

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.46419/cvj.57.6.5

Keywords:

foodborne pathogens, zoonoses, epidemiological trends, One Health, Republic of Croatia

Abstract

This review evaluates the occurrence and epidemiological trends of major foodborne zoonotic pathogens in the European Union, with particular emphasis on the Republic of Croatia, over the period 2020-2024. Using the One Health framework, data were synthesised from annual zoonosis reports of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), complemented by targeted national and regional studies. Following a temporary, pandemic-related decline in 2020, largely attributable to COVID-19 related disruptions in surveillance and behavioral changes, notification rates for most foodborne pathogens rebounded and stabilised at pre-pandemic or higher levels. Campylobacteriosis remained the most frequently reported zoonosis, while salmonellosis persisted at consistently high levels, with notable shifts in serovar distribution, including the emergence of Salmonella Infantis. Listeriosis, although less frequent, demonstrated the highest hospitalisation and case fatality rates, with a continued upward trend. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections increased substantially, partly due to improved molecular diagnostics and enhanced surveillance sensitivity. Unlike existing consolidated EFSA/ECDC reports, this review highlights the importance of regional data for identifying localised hotspots and more precisely understanding transmission dynamics. This more detailed perspective emphasises the need for continuous, integrated surveillance across the human, veterinary, and environmental sectors to effectively address evolving, region-specific risks related to pathogen adaptation, antimicrobial resistance, and climate-related pressures within the food supply chain.

Downloads

Published

2026-11-15

Issue

Vol. 57 No. 6 (2026)

Section

Articles

License

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

You are free to:

Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.

Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.

The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.

Under the following terms:

Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.

No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.