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Published on: October 25, 2017
Isolation of Salmonella enterica serotypes from children with diarrhoea in Calcutta, India
1National Institute of Cholera and Enteric Diseases, P-33, CIT Road, Scheme XM, Beliaghata, Calcutta 700 010, West Bengal, India. niced@ca12.vsnl.net.in
Insights
Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium was the most common cause of diarrheal disease in children in eastern India. Most infections were treated effectively with oral rehydration therapy, but strains showed high resistance to common antibiotics.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Diarrheal diseases pose a significant public health challenge, particularly in developing regions.
- Salmonella enterica serotypes are recognized as important enteropathogens causing gastroenteritis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of Salmonella enterica serotypes in diarrheal children in eastern India.
- To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and phage types of isolated Salmonella strains.
- To examine the clinical presentations associated with Salmonella infections.
Main Methods:
- Screening of 1,025 fecal samples from hospitalized diarrheal children for enteropathogens.
- Identification of Salmonella enterica serotypes using standard microbiological techniques.
- In-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing and phage typing of isolated strains.
Main Results:
- Four Salmonella enterica serotypes were identified in 15.3% of cases, with S. enterica serotype Typhimurium being the most prevalent (70%).
- S. Typhimurium was also isolated from control children, indicating potential asymptomatic carriage.
- Clinical presentations included acute watery diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, fever, and abdominal pain; 95% recovered with oral rehydration therapy.
- 120 out of 121 S. Typhimurium strains exhibited resistance to commonly used drugs; 13 strains were phage type 193, with no established clinical significance.
Conclusions:
- Diarrhoeagenic Salmonella, particularly S. enterica serotype Typhimurium, is a major cause of diarrheal diseases in eastern India.
- High antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella isolates is a concern, emphasizing the importance of oral rehydration therapy.
- Further research is needed to understand the epidemiology and clinical significance of specific Salmonella phage types.
Abstract:
The prevalence of Salmonella enterica serotypes, antimicrobial susceptibility, and phage typing of serovers were studied. Clinical presentations of the infected cases were also examined. The study was carried out during August 1993-September 1996 in and around Calcutta, India. In total, 1,025 faecal samples from hospitalized diarrhoeal children were screened for enteropathogens. Four S. enterica serotypes were identified in 157 (15.3%) cases as a single pathogen. S. enterica serotype Typhimurium was detected in 110 (70%) cases. S. Seftenberg, S. Infantis, and S. Virchow were detected in 28 (17.8%), 14 (8.9%), and 5 (3.2%) cases respectively. S. Typhimurium was isolated from 11 (3.2%) non-diarrhoeal control children. All of these children had acute watery diarrhoea, and 5% of them had severe dehydration, 40% had some dehydration, and 55% had no dehydration. Vomiting, fever, and diffused pain in abdomen were the associated presentations of these children. Most (95%) of them recovered with oral rehydration therapy only and without any antibiotics. In-vitro susceptibility testing showed that 120 of the 121 S. Typhimurium strains isolated from cases and controls were resistant to the commonly-used drugs. Thirteen of the 121 strains were phage-typeable and belonged to the phage type 193. However, no clinical or epidemiological significance could be established with these typeable strains. The findings of the study indicate that diarrhoeagenic Salmonella is one of the major pathogens causing diarrhoeal diseases in eastern India.
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