Salmnella Typhi
Around the world, Typhi fever affects millions annualy, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths. The fever is caused by an obliate parasite most commonly known as Salmonella Typhi (Salmonella Enterica Typhi). This parasite has no known natural habitat outside of humans. There is not much information of the historical emergence of Salmonella Typhi, however it is believed to be the cause of death for many famous figures such as Wilbur Wright and Alexander the Great. Although the disease is rare in the United States and other developed nations, it still poses a great risk of emergence, resulting in thousands of deaths.
Orignally, this parasite was isolated in 1880 by Karl J. Erberth. Salmnella Typhi is a multi-organ pathogen that inhabits the lympathic tissues of the small intestine, liver, spleen, and bloodstream of infected humans. However, it is not commonly known to infect animals. It is most commonly found in developing countries with poor sanitary conditions and the lack of antibiotics. Travelers to Asia, Africa, and Latin America are faced with a higher risk factor for obtaining this parasite. In 2002, 266 people in the US were infected. Their previous travels were recorded and 70% of the victims had traveled internationally within six weeks of the onset of disease.
This gram-negative enteric bacillus belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a motile, facultative anaerobe that is susceptible to various antibiotics. Strains of this organism have been isolated, 107 to be exact. Many have been found to contain varying metabolic characteristics, levels of virulence, and multi-drug resistant genes. Due to the drug resistant genes, treatment in areas that treatment is prevalent is made much more complicated. Diagnostic identification can be attained by growth on MacConkey and EMB agars, and the bacteria is strictly non-lactose fermenting. It also produces no gas when grown in TSI media, which is used to differentiate it from other Enterobacteriaceae.
Orignally, this parasite was isolated in 1880 by Karl J. Erberth. Salmnella Typhi is a multi-organ pathogen that inhabits the lympathic tissues of the small intestine, liver, spleen, and bloodstream of infected humans. However, it is not commonly known to infect animals. It is most commonly found in developing countries with poor sanitary conditions and the lack of antibiotics. Travelers to Asia, Africa, and Latin America are faced with a higher risk factor for obtaining this parasite. In 2002, 266 people in the US were infected. Their previous travels were recorded and 70% of the victims had traveled internationally within six weeks of the onset of disease.
This gram-negative enteric bacillus belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a motile, facultative anaerobe that is susceptible to various antibiotics. Strains of this organism have been isolated, 107 to be exact. Many have been found to contain varying metabolic characteristics, levels of virulence, and multi-drug resistant genes. Due to the drug resistant genes, treatment in areas that treatment is prevalent is made much more complicated. Diagnostic identification can be attained by growth on MacConkey and EMB agars, and the bacteria is strictly non-lactose fermenting. It also produces no gas when grown in TSI media, which is used to differentiate it from other Enterobacteriaceae.
