Intended Use:

Test for qualitative detection of S. typhi and S. paratyphi antigens in human faeces and serum samples

Introduction:

Typhoid fever is a life threatening illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella typhi, and was observed by Eberth (1880) in the mesenteric nodes and spleen of fatal cases of typhoid fever. It is common in developing countries where it affects about 12.5 million persons annually. The infection is acquired typically by ingestion. On reaching the gut, the bacilli attach themselves to the epithelial cells of the intestinal villi and penetrate to the lamina and submucosa. They are then phagocytosed there by polymorphs and macrophages. The ability to resist intracellular killing and to multiply within these cells is a measure of their virulence. They enter the mesenteric lymph nodes, where they multiply and, via the thoracic duct, enter the blood stream. A transient bacteremia follows, during which the bacilli are seeded in the liver, gall bladder, spleen, bone marrow, lymph nodes and kidneys, where further multiplication takes place. Towards the end of the incubation period, there occurs a massive bacteremia from these sites, heralding the onset of the clinical symptoms. The diagnosis of typhoid consists of isolation of the bacilli and the demonstration of antibodies. The isolation of the bacilli is very time consuming and antibody detection is not very specific. Other tests include the Widal reaction. has developed a test that takes only 10-20 minutes and requires only a small quantity of stool or one drop of serum to perform. It is the easiest and most specific method for detecting S.typhi-S.paratyphi infection.