A systematic review of the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni in chicken populations within Middle East and North Africa (2014–2025)

الملخص

Campylobacter jejuni is a leading bacterial agent of foodborne illnesses worldwide, with poultry serving as its
primary reservoir. This systematic review aimed to document and compare the prevalence of C. jejuni in chickens across countries in the MENA region from 2014 to early 2025. A structured search of the PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases was conducted to identify peer-reviewed studies that reported prevalence data. Twenty-eight studies from 13 MENA countries met the inclusion criteria, covering a range of sample types and diagnostic methods, including culture and PCR. The reported prevalence varies widely, from as low as 6% to over 80%, largely influenced by sampling methods, biosecurity practices, and environmental conditions. Algeria and Iran are among the countries with the highest reported prevalence rates. A meta-analysis was not feasible owing to methodological heterogeneity. Therefore, the findings were synthesized descriptively. The results emphasize significant gaps in poultry hygiene practices and surveillance infrastructure, which may contribute to the ongoing public health burden of C. jejuni in the region. Additionally, this review highlights emerging antimicrobial resistance trends associated with poultry farming. These findings underscore the urgency of coordinated regional efforts to enhance epidemiological monitoring and implement evidence-based poultry safety measures.