Validation and Identification of Invasive Salmonella Serotypes in Sub-Saharan Africa by Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction

Citation: 
Al-Emran HM, Krumkamp R, Dekker DM, Eibach D, Aaby P, Adu-Sarkodie Y, Ali M, Rubach MP, Bjerregaard-Andersen M, Crump JA, Cruz Espinoza LM, Løfberg SV, Gassama Sow A, Hertz JT, Im J, Jaeger A, Kabore LP, Konings F, Meyer CG, Niang A, Pak GD, Panzner U, Park SE, Rabezanahary H, Rakotozandrindrainy R, Raminosoa TM, Razafindrabe TJ, Sampo E, Schütt-Gerowitt H, Sarpong N, Soura AB, Tall A, von Kalckreuth V, Wierzba TF, May J, Marks F
Publication year: 
2016

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) cause the majority of bloodstream infections in sub-Saharan Africa; however, serotyping is rarely performed. We validated a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with the White-Kauffmann-Le Minor (WKLM) scheme of serotyping using 110 Salmonella isolates from blood cultures of febrile children in Ghana and applied the method in other Typhoid Fever Surveillance in Africa Program study sites. In Ghana, 47 (43%) S. Typhi, 36 (33%) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, 14 (13%) Salmonella enterica serovar Dublin, and 13 (12%) Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis were identified by both multiplex PCR and the WKLM scheme separately. Using the validated multiplex PCR assay, we identified 42 (66%) S. Typhi, 14 (22%) S. Typhimurium, 2 (3%) S. Dublin, 2 (3%) S. Enteritidis, and 4 (6%) other Salmonella species from the febrile patients in Burkina Faso, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar, Senegal, and Tanzania. Application of this multiplex PCR assay in sub-Saharan Africa could advance the knowledge of serotype distribution of Salmonella.

External link: 
Clin Infect Dis. 2016 Mar 15;62 Suppl 1:S80-2. doi: 10.1093/cid/civ782.