Assessment of antibody titer distribution against Salmonella enterica among suspected enteric fever patients.

Pusparaj Bhatt; Guheswari Chataut; Suja Maharjan; Keshab Bhattarai; Laxman Bhatt

doi:10.37591/rrjomv.v13i2.3260

Abstract

Typhoid fever is a global health problem, causing millions of deaths each year. It is an endemic problem in many developing countries including Nepal. Development of exceptional mechanisms for persistence in its host supports its survival and transmission. However, due to a lack of sophisticated labs and adequate funds, difficulties in the estimation of worldwide impact are often encountered. The Widal test is a diagnostic technique extensively employed to identify enteric fever, offering a quicker, easier, and more cost-effective method. Within this research, blood samples were analyzed for enteric fever utilizing the Standard Widal Confirmatory Quantitative Tube test. A total of 160 blood samples were collected to analyze the prevalence of enteric fever in Bheemdutta municipality. Out of which 32 showed positive agglutination test where 18 samples belonged to female patients and 14 belonged to male patients. The statistical analysis showed a negative correlation between test results and the gender of the patients (p<0.05). Among 25 individuals showing antibody titer against serotype Typhi, 14 had titers of ≥1:20 for anti-O titer and 11 samples demonstrated anti-H titers of ≥1:20. Anti-H titers equal to or exceeding 1:20 were observed in only 6.25% for S. enterica serotype Paratyphi A and 15.63% for serotype B. This corresponded to an additional seven samples that displayed positive results in the agglutination test among all the samples tested. The study showed significant antibody titer among the studied sample in the study area.

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