Determination of baseline Widal titre in healthy individuals in Karbala city, South of Iraq

Objective: To determine the cutoff of antibodies directed against Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serotype typhi, paratyphi A, and paratyphi B in normal population in Karbala city, south Iraq

Methods: Widal test was performed for 90 serially diluted serum samples collected from apparently healthy volunteers. A commercial Widal test kit was used. Agglutination results were observed within 1 minute

Results: In the current study, 23.33%, 22.22%, 6.6%, 4.4%, 38.88% and 5.55% of individuals had antibody titre >/=1:20 for S. enterica subspecies enterica serotype typhi O, H, S. enterica serotype paratyphi AO, AH, S. enterica serotype paratyphi BO and BH, respectively

Conclusion: Based on these results, antibody titres of 1:160 for O and H, 1:40 for AO, 1:80 for AH and BH and 1:320 for BO antigens were considered as baseline titre in Karbala

Inhibitory effects of several essential oils towards salmonella typhimurium, salmonella paratyphi A and salmonella paratyphi B

Plant essential oils are natural products extracted from plants and because of their antimicrobial properties can be used as natural additives in foods. They are also useful for decontamination of food-borne pathogens and can be a safe additive in foods. The antimicrobial activities of essential oils belonging to Saturiea hortensis, Thymus vulgaris, Mentha polegium, Cuminum cyminum, Lavandula officinalis and Mentha viridis L. [spearmint] were investigated at different concentrations [0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1, 2, 5 and 10%v/v] against Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella paratyphi A and Salmonella paratyphi B by using the agar well diffusion method. Essential oils showed inhibitory effect on Salmonella spp. in the agar well diffusion assay. In addition, the capability of essential oils for decontamination of minced row beef, ground beef, minced raw chicken and minced raw fish inoculated with Salmonella spp. at 0.1 and 0.5%v/v were assessed. Reduction of the Salmonella spp. population was observed following the inoculation of the cultures with 0.1 and 0.5%v/v essential oils

Salmonella spp. in patients suffering from enteric fever and food poisoning in Thamar city, Yemen

Salmonella remains a public health concern around the world, including Yemen although data on its incidence are few. This study determined the incidence of Salmonella infection in 250 enteric fever and 210 food poisoning cases attending Thamar general hospital and Dar Alshafaa medical clinic in 2008. In total, 773 clinical specimens were taken: 250 blood, 187 urine and 336 stool samples. Of the patients with enteric fever and food poisoning, 16.4% and 15.2% respectively were infected with Salmonella. The serovars isolated were: Salmonella Typhi [45.6%], Salmonella Enteritidis [24.4%], Salmonella Paratyphi B [14.4%], Salmonella Typhimurium [13.3%] and Salmonella Paratyphi A [2.2%]. The distribution of somatic groups was: D [70%], B [27.7%] and A [2.2%]. None of the isolates was resistant to ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, ceftriaxone or moxifloxacin, while 71.1% were resistant to cotrimoxazole, 62.2% to gentamicin, 56.6% to ampicillin and 35.5% to nalidixic acid

Computed tomography features in enteric fever

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Enteric fever is a common infection in endemic areas; however, there are few reports describing the computed tomography (CT) manifestations of enteric fever. We aim to describe and illustrate CT findings in enteric fever in this study.</p><p><b>MATERIALS AND METHODS</b>A retrospective search of medical records in our institute for patients with positive blood cultures for Salmonella typhi, and Salmonella paratyphi organisms yielded 39 cases. Among these patients, 12 had undergone a CT study of the abdomen. The CT images, laboratory and clinical findings of these 12 patients were reviewed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The most common clinical presentation was fever (100%). Typical features of gastroenteritis were present in only over half of the patients. Liver function tests were abnormal in all patients. The most common abdominal manifestations on CT were the presence of mesenteric lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly (75%). Other features were circumferential small bowel wall thickening (58.3%) and free intraperitoneal fluid (50%). Three patients were found to have complications; one with bleeding from terminal ileal ulceration, another with an ileal perforation and the third with renal abscess formation.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>CT is useful in evaluating enteric fever in patients with severe forms of presentation, a longer clinical course or less specific symptoms. Although the imaging features overlap with other abdominal infections, when combined with clinical features, travel history to endemic areas and presence of transaminitis, the diagnosis of enteric fever should be considered. CT in particular, is useful for the detection of complications such as perforation, bleeding and abscess formation.</p>

Antimicrobial resistance in typhoidal salmonellae.

Infections with Salmonella are an important public health problem worldwide. On a global scale, it has been appraised that Salmonella is responsible for an estimated 3 billion human infections each year. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that annually typhoid fever accounts for 21.7 million illnesses (217,000 deaths) and paratyphoid fever accounts for 5.4 million of these cases. Infants, children, and adolescents in south-central and South-eastern Asia experience the greatest burden of illness. In cases of enteric fever, including infections with S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi A and B, it is often necessary to commence treatment before the results of laboratory sensitivity tests are available. Hence, it is important to be aware of options and possible problems before beginning treatment. Ciprofloxacin has become the first-line drug of choice since the widespread emergence and spread of strains resistant to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, and trimethoprim. There is increase in the occurrence of strains resistant to ciprofloxacin. Reports of typhoidal salmonellae with increasing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and resistance to newer quinolones raise the fear of potential treatment failures and necessitate the need for new, alternative antimicrobials. Extended-spectrum cephalosporins and azithromycin are the options available for the treatment of enteric fever. The emergence of broad spectrum β-lactamases in typhoidal salmonellae constitutes a new challenge. Already there are rare reports of azithromycin resistance in typhoidal salmonellae leading to treatment failure. This review is based on published research from our centre and literature from elsewhere in the world. This brief review tries to summarize the history and recent trends in antimicrobial resistance in typhoidal salmonellae.

Evaluation of Widal test in diagnosis of typhoid fever among patients in Aden, Yemen

Salmonella typhi is strictly human pathogen and has no animal reservoir. The laboratory diagnosis of typhoid fever depends upon either clinical investigation or the detection of titers of agglutination of serum antibodies [Widal test]. 216 Yemeni patients with suspected typhoid fever, were investigated with Widal test, slide agglutination test and stool culture. The Widal test showed different results which then compared with conventional broth and solid culture of, MacConkey [MA], Salmonella-Shigella agar [SSA], Bismuth Sulfite Agar [BSA], Xylose Lysine Deoxycholate [XLD] and Kligller Iron Agar [KIA]. The presence of S. typhi was in 4 patients [1.85%], whereas S. paratyphi AB was detected in 24 patients [11.11%]. The stool cultures and biochemical tests the existence of S. typhi the causative agent of typhoid fever. Then the typhoid fever was further confirmed by the API 20E system

Salmonella-a new threat to neonates.

Hospital admitted 582 neonates with suspected septicaemia were studied in Microbiology Department of Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Samples being taken from neonatal unit of Dhaka Medical College Hospital and a Neonatal Private Hospital in one year (January to December 2004). Blood culture was done by Lytic-centrifugation method. The isolated organisms were identified using standard laboratory procedures. Among 582 sick neonates 59(10.14%) were culture positive and the predominant organisms were Gram Negative Bacteria (89.83%). Among the isolates Klebsiella spp. was the prime organism (33.90%). Salmonella was observed as the 2nd most common cause (22.03%) for sepsis of neonates. Of these isolated Salmonella strains 46.15% were Salmonella typhi and 53.85% were Salmonella spp. Next to Imipenem, Ciprofloxacin was observed as the drug of choice for treatment of Sepsis neonatorum.

Bacteriological analysis of water samples from tsunami hit coastal areas of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu.

Water borne diseases such as cholera, enteric fever and dysentery were expected after the tsunami, which hit the coastal areas of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu. In the present study 151 drinking water sources were collected from the tsunami affected villages and relief shelters and tested for coliforms and pathogens. Nine well water samples were also collected for specific bacteriological analysis. Presence of coliforms was detected in 56 (37%) water samples. One isolate each of Salmonella Paratyphi B and NAG Vibrio were isolated from two well water samples. There was no report of acute diarrhoeal diseases or typhoid illness during the post tsunami period monitored by a field microbiology laboratory for a month.

Prevalence of enteric fever in Karachi

To find out the common strains causing enteric fever in the population and to compare the antimicrobial susceptibility strains isolated from indoor and outdoor patients. A total of 300 clinically suspicious cases of enteric fever were enrolled from the wards and OPDs of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center [JPMC], National Institute of Child Health [NICH] and Civil Hospital, Karachi [CHK] during the period of August 2004 to May 2005. Important laboratory investigations carried out included blood culture, slide agglutination test and antimicrobial susceptibility. Out of 300 patients selected 172 proved positive for Salmonella with 87.2% being S.typhi, 21 [12.2%] Para A and 1 [0.6%] Para B. Among the 86% indoor and 14% out door cases positive, 70.3% were from NICH, 15.1% from Civil Hospital, Karachi while 14.5% from JPMC respectively. Catchment area distribution showed 28.7% from East, 28% from South, 16.7% from Central, 14% from Malir, 5.7% from West and the remaining 7% were from outside Karachi. Chloramphenicol sensitivity was 47 [27%], ampicillin 44 [25.6%], trimethoprim sulphamethoxazole 4 [2.32%], cefixime 167 [97%], ceftriaxone 169 [98.8%] and ofloxacin 170 [98.8%]. Typhoid afflicts a large number of people in Karachi. Provision of safe drinking water, hygienic food and efficient sewerage system are therefore mandatory for prevention of typhoid

Occurrence of salmonella in ice cream and related products

In a microbiological examination of 70 packed and unpacked samples of ice cream and related products such as kulfi. kulfa, cones and ice cubes collected from different localities of Lahore, the total viable counts ranged from 1.0x10[4]/g to 6.0x10[6]/g. Salmonella occurred in 10 out of 70 samples [14.3%]. The maximum occurrence [75%] of Salmonella was recorded in samples collected from Muslim Town

Survivability of Salmonella paratyphi B var Java on experimentally infected cockroaches.

Cockroaches are inhabitant of sewers and frequent visitors of kitchen and stores in the night to feed on left over. It is liable to disseminate a number of pathogens by contaminating kitchen surface, feeding vessels and food items left open. Salmonella paratyphi B var Java a common pathogen of man and animal was used in the study to evaluate its survival and excretion in cockroaches. The host when fed on semisolid feed containing 1 x 10(7) CFU of S. paratyphi B var Java g-1, it was found that the pathogen was eliminated earlier from the live than euthanized cockroaches.

Malaria and Widal reaction.

Widal reaction was studied in 52 patients having malaria parasites in the peripheral blood smear. Twenty had Plasmodium vivax, 26 had Plasmodium falciparum and the rest had mixed (both vivax and falciparum) infections. Widal test for both O and H antigens of Salmonella typhi was positive in high titres in 3 falciparum, 3 vivax and 2 cases of mixed infection. Of these 8 cases, one had been treated for typhoid fever 3 months back and again one month back for relapse. Blood culture for Salmonella typhi was negative in all. All were cured after antimalarial therapy. The positive Widal reaction may be false.

Fiebre paratifoídea B en dos áreas de Santiago: un análisis de su significación epidemiológica / Paratyphoid B fever in Santiago, Chile: epidemiological significance

Salmonella isolates from 3920 patients with typho8id fever form 2 years in Santiago wetre analyzed to determine the frequency of association with S paratyphi B infection. This was demonstrated in 18.8% of subjects in both areas, a figure significantly higher than the 8-10% previously reported. the association S paratyphi B was higher for females, especially for the younger age agrupo. These findings suggest an infectious agentgender-age interaction which may explain the discrepancy with previously report rates of infection. Their possible relation to the chronic salmonella carrier state and association with biliary tract lithiasis and cancer is discussed