Prevalence of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi among Patients attending Selected Health Care Centres in Lafia, Nasarawa State, Nigeria

A study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi  among 300 patients attending selected health care centres in Lafia, Nasarawa State Nigeria. Demographic  data of patients were collected via semi-structured questionnaire. Bacterial isolates from stool samples  collected from patients were identified using standard biochemical and serotyping methods. Stool samples  of 17 (5.70%) patients tested positive for Salmonella Typhi, and strains having the somatic O antigen were  more prevalent (88.24%) than those with the flagellar H antigen (11.76%). Higher prevalence of  Salmonella Typhi was observed in females (7.05%) compared to males (4.17%), and in adults (5.74%)  compared to children (5.50%). Prevalence was also higher in singles (7.39%) compared to married (4.00%)  and in non-literate patients (11.91%) compared to literates (4.65%). Higher prevalence values were  observed among retirees (50%) compared to civil servants (5.81%), private sector workers (5.17%) and  unemployed (5.20%). Higher prevalence values were observed among semi-urban dwellers (8.80%)  compared to urban dwellers (3.19%) and rural dwellers (5.56%). The major source of drinking water of  patients was bore hole (85.67%). There was no significant association between all demographic categories  of patients under investigation and infection by Salmonella Typhi (P>0.05). Improved personal hygiene,  supply of potable drinking water, targeted vaccination, and regular screening and licensing of public food  and water vendors, are recommended for the control of typhoid fever caused by Salmonella enterica  serovar Typhi, in the studied area.