Molecular and Phenotypic Characteristics of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Isolated from Asymptomatic Carrier

Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (S. typhi) the cause of the acute febrile disease typhoid fever is the major public health problem in developing countries. Asymptomatic carriers are the main sources of typhoid. The aim of this study was to investigate methods for isolation and identification of S. typhi in asymptomatic carriers.
Two hundred stool samples were collected from foodstuff workers and distributors. Then culture characterization, biochemical tests, and nested-PCR were done.
One hundred and seventy-one (85%) of the total cases were male and the mean age of cases was 35 years. Stool culture yielded bacterial colonies consistent with fecal flora but did not yield S. typhi. In nested PCR technique just one of the 200 samples (0.5%) was positive for the S. typhi capsular gene (vi gene).
Due to the improvement in the health status of the country and the low typhoid carriers, it is recommended that efforts be focused on other hygienic issues.