Antibody levels to Salmonella typhi and paratyphi in Nigerians

• Published in: East African medical journal Vol. 76; no. 11; p. 623
• Main Authors: Tanyigna, K B, Ayeni, J A, Okeke, E N, Onah, J A, Bello, C S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kenya 01-11-1999
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age Distribution; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Child; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nigeria - epidemiology; Paratyphoid Fever - blood; Paratyphoid Fever - epidemiology; Paratyphoid Fever - immunology; Reproducibility of Results; Salmonella paratyphi A - immunology; Salmonella typhi - immunology; Seroepidemiologic Studies; Serologic Tests - methods; Serologic Tests - standards; Sex Distribution; Surveys and Questionnaires; Typhoid Fever - blood; Typhoid Fever - epidemiology; Typhoid Fever - immunology; Urban Health - statistics & numerical data; Nigeria
• ISSN: 0012-835X

To determine the antibody titre levels to typhoid/paratyphoid fever organisms among apparently healthy volunteers.
Cross sectional study.
General community and University Teaching Hospital.
Volunteer sample of 323 apparently healthy individuals with body temperatures < or = 37.8 degrees C.
Questionnaire administration to classify volunteers into three socio-economic status (SES).
There were 35.29% of the apparently healthy population in Jos community with antibodies to typhoid/paratyphoid fever organisms. The presence of these antibodies were neither sex nor SES related. Normal antibody titres were up to 1:40 and 1:80 for O and H Salmonella antigens respectively. Contrary to the general belief, typhoid/paratyphoid fevers have not affected virtually everybody in Nigeria. The difference between those without previous history and those with previous history was significant (p < 0.05) with those in the former category having a higher percentage.
For a single sero-diagnosis to have any diagnostic value in Jos community and its environs, only a four-fold rise to what has been found to be normal should be significant. This means that only titres of 1:160 and 1:320 and above for O and H antigens should be considered significant.