Carrier Rate of Typhoid Organisms in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: To determine the carrier rate of typhoid and paratyphoid organisms in Enugu community. Place and Duration of Study: The project was carried out in Enugu Urban in South Eastern part of Nigeria. Those enrolled in the study that lasted for one year are students, traders and civil servants. Methodology: Ninety six apparently healthy adults without any complaints, comprising of forty eight males and forty eight females were selected for the study. Blood, urine and stool samples were collected from all in the study group. The samples were subjected to standard bacteriological culture for enteric organisms at the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Results: Salmonella typhi was isolated from the stool of two (2.08%) of the candidates while S. paratyphi was recovered from the stool of another individual (1.04%) of the study group. No candidate gave Widal titre greater than 40 to ,O, agglutinin which is statistically significant (Anova F value 597.7, P value <0.0001). Only Two Candidates positive for S. typhi culture gave titre of 160 to, H, antigen, also Statistically significant (Anova F value 1195, P value <0.0001). Conclusion: Typhoid carrier rate in Enugu Community is 2.1% while that of paratyphoid is 1.0%. From the study females are more likely to be typhoid carriers in Enugu.