Authors
Ang Lim Chua, Ismail Aziah, Prabha Balaram, Saatheeyavaane Bhuvanendran, Amy Amilda Anthony, Siti Norazura Mohmad, Norhafiza M. Nasir, Haslizai Hassan, Rochman Naim, Lila P. Meran, Hani M. Hussin, Asma Ismail
Abstract
Chronic carriers of Salmonella Typhi act as reservoirs for the organism and become the agents of typhoid outbreaks in a community. In this study, chronic carriers in Kelantan, Malaysia were first identified using the culture and polymerase chain reaction method. Then, a novel serological tool, designated Typhidot-C, was evaluated in retrospect using the detected individuals as control positives. Chronic carriage positive by the culture and polymerase chain reaction method was recorded at 3.6% (4 out of 110) among individuals who previously had acute typhoid fever and a 9.4% (10 out of 106) carriage rate was observed among food handlers screened during outbreaks. The Typhidot-C assay was able to detect all these positive carriers showing its potential as a viable carrier screening tool and can be used for efficient detection of typhoid carriers in an endemic area. These findings were used to establish the first carrier registry for S. Typhi carriers in Malaysia.
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