ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Salmonella paratyphi cause enteric fever which is an important public health problem worldwide. In Pakistan incidence is increasing and affect all age groups. Therefore, the present research was designed to study the different microbiological aspects of Salmonella paratyphi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted to identify the Salmonella paratyphi from blood samples in Quetta. Total 480 blood samples were collected from different hospital of Quetta. Specific colony characters, microscopic examination, biochemical tests and PCR were used for identification of Salmonella paratyphi. RESULTS: Total 55% samples were positive and 45% were negative for Salmonella paratyphi. Results showed that males (34%) were more affected with Salmonella paratyphi as compare to female (20%). Age wise distribution revealed that Salmonella paratyphi was high in 20-30 years (38%) followed by 10-20 years (9.16%) and 1-10 years (7.5%) age group patients. Paratyphoid fever cases were significantly high (25.41%) in Pashtoon population as compare to other population of Balochistan. The 40% paratyphoid fever was observed in the patients with low socioeconomic status, 9.16% in middle socioeconomic status and 5.83% in the patients belonged to high socioeconomic status. The Salmonella paratyphi were sensitive to Chloramphenicol (23 mm), Amikacin (24 mm), Gentamicin (12 mm), Quinolones (23) and Polypeptide (13 mm) classes. The PCR based identification of Salmonella paratyphi showed clear bands of 329 bp of flic-a gene. CONCLUSION: To control paratyphoid fever strong initiatives must be taken to improve water sanitation, hygiene level, supply of save drinking water and vaccination is recommended in order to eradicate the disease.
