Prevalence and Geographical Distribution of Foodborne <i>Yersinia enterocolitica</i> in Chinese Livestock and Their Products: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (2000-2024).

Abstract

<i>Yersinia enterocolitica</i> is a psychrotrophic zoonotic pathogen that causes diarrhea in animals and enteritis in humans, mainly transmitted through the food chain. This systematic review and meta-analysis estimated the prevalence, geographical distribution, and related risk factors of <i>Y. enterocolitica</i> in livestock throughout the Chinese Mainland. Comprehensive searches were conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases for studies between 1 January 2000 and 1 August 2025. Out of 1092 identified studies, 28 met the inclusion criteria. The estimated overall prevalence of <i>Y. enterocolitica</i> was 9.37%. Prior to 2015, the prevalence peaked at 9.69% but declined in subsequent years. The highest prevalence was found in Southern China (25.00%). Among livestock species, pigs showed higher susceptibility (9.93%) compared to cattle (4.67%). Meat samples exhibited the highest prevalence (15.47%), while qPCR yielded the highest detection rate (10.79%). Geographical factors such as longitude, latitude, altitude, climate, temperature, rainfall, and humidity also influenced prevalence patterns. <i>Y. enterocolitica</i> remains widely distributed in livestock and meat products. Variability was linked to regional, species-specific, and methodological aspects, highlighting the need for One-Health-based monitoring, stricter hygiene regulations, and standardized diagnostics to protect food safety.