Risk factors of Salmonella infection in laying hens in Menoua Division, Western region of Cameroon (Central Africa)

•Salmonella is among the pathogens jeopardizing poultry industry in Cameroon.•The Salmonella isolates identified are both of veterinary and public health importance.•Supporting risk factors for the occurrence of Salmonella are present.•The One health approach should be used to address Salmonella problem on poultry farms in the country. Salmonella infections in poultry farms are overlooked in many African countries; yet these infections are mostly zoonotic with impact on both poultry industry and public health. Considering the impact of Salmonella in laying hens, and the role of laying hens as a source of Salmonella outbreak in human, knowledge of the status of Salmonella on laying hen farms as well as the factors influencing the presence of Salmonella is important. In a cross sectional study, cloacal swabs were collected from 270 commercial laying hens on 27 farms located in Menoua Division. These samples were cultured on standard media. A questionnaire was used to collect information on animals, farms and farmer’s characteristics. The prevalence of Salmonella was 93.34%; three zoonotic isolates namely S. Enteritidis (75.90%), S. Paratyphi (11.90%), and S. Typhimurium (5.60%) were identified. The location of farms was significantly associated with presence of Salmonella, and the risk of infection was 10-fold higher in Nkong-ni than Santchou (p