Prevalence And Titre Level Of Antibodies To Febrile Antigens Of Salmonella Species In Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria.

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and titre levels of antibodies to febrile antigens of Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A,B,C among the students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike and patients from Confidence Laboratory, Umuahia, Abia State. The study was carried out between September and December 2007. Serum samples from 100 subjects were analysed using slide and tube Widal agglutination tests. The overall prevalence of antibodies to febrile antigens among the study population was 61%. The highest prevalence was observed among females in the 21-25 years age group. Prevalence was higher among male counterparts. The number of people showing agglutination was higher for S.paratyphi A,B,C than for S. typhi. The titre levels of antibodies to H antigens were higher than that of 0 antigens. A total number of 1 03(47.50%)showed a titre level of 1:80 to both 0 and H antigens, 65(29.95%) < 1:80 and 51(23.50%) > 1:80 titre level. Taking the titre level of 1:80 and above to both 0 and H antigens as significant for diagnosis of typhoid fever, the true typhoid fever cases in this study is (71%).