Preliminary bacteriological study of clot cultures in suspected enteric fever patients

1.1692 clot cultures were done front the 2197 samples of blood received for the Widal test. 2. The total percentage positivity for Salmonellae was 3.1 and that from the children was 6.5. 3. Salmonellae isolated were Salm. typhi 49 strains, Salm. paratyphi ,A 2 strains, Salm. paratyphi B 1 strain and Salm. cholerae-suis 1 strain.

Healthy carriage of salmonellae

The carriage of Salmonellae and the presence of high agglutinin titres of the somatic antibodies in apparently healthy subjects confirms the earlier studies.The occurence of high titre 0 antibodies of the Salmonella group appear to be caused by the carrier state.15 strains representing 7 serotypes were isolated. Salmonellae isolated were, paratyphi beta typhi, weltevreden, eastbourne and worthington. The two last named are now isolates of this laboratory. It is suggested that a wider range of antigenic suspension should be included in the antibody level determination if this serological test is to be used as a preliminary screening test for detection of the carriers by cultural methods.

Distribution of salmonella agglutinins of the enteric group in the sera of healthy adults in Rangoon

47.3 per cent of the samples tested from healthy adults gave a positive reaction with routine test titres with Salmonella typhi 0 antigen suspensions. 4 per cent of these samples agglutinated at high titres with both 0 and H antigen suspensions of Salmonella typhi. Finding of high titres of 0 and H Salmonella typhi is not diagnostic of active infection. Paired samples of blood should be tested for the serological diagnosis of enteric fever, to demonstrate a rise in titre.