Abstract

Foodborne pathogens such as Salmonela exemplify the challenges of modern food safety governance, where biological adaptability intersects with fragmented surveillance across human, animal, and environmental sectors. Owing to its ubiquity, antigenic diversity, and public health impact, Salmonella remains a priority target for integrated surveillance under a One Health framework. Accordingly, this review analyzes the structure, strengths, and limitations of the current surveillance landscape in Chile within a broader Latin American context, with particular emphasis on multidrug-resistant (MDR) lineages. Available evidence indicates the emergence and persistence of MDR Salmonella, particularly S. Infantis, across interconnected reservoirs, including poultry production systems, surface waters, food products, and human infections. Although advances in whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and national surveillance initiatives have improved strain characterization and reporting capacity, integration across genomic, epidemiological, and environmental datasets remains incomplete, thereby limiting interoperability and timely response. In this context, Chile represents a relevant case study, demonstrating both the feasibility and the challenges of transitioning toward integrated One Health surveillance. While coordinated regulatory frameworks and pilot initiatives have established a foundation for cross-sectoral monitoring, fragmentation in governance, data systems, and environmental coverage continues to hinder full implementation. Consequently, surveillance efforts often remain compartmentalized, reducing their capacity to support rapid risk assessment and coordinated interventions. Overall, this review highlights the need to move from parallel surveillance efforts toward interoperable, realtime surveillance systems supported by harmonized methodologies, integrated genomic analyses, and shared governance structures. Ultimately, strengthening these components will be essential to improve early detection, source attribution, and coordinated control of MDR Salmonella in complex food systems, while advancing One Health-based governance in Chile and comparable settings.