An Epidemiological Study to Estimate the Baseline Titres of Widal Test in Apparently Healthy Individuals of Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Published: June 1, 2018 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2018/34179.11641
Subhajit Giri, Surya Narayan Mishra, Basanta Kumar Behera, Dipti Pattnaik
1. Student, Department of Microbiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
2. Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
3. Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
4. Professor and HOD, Department of Microbiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
Correspondence
Dr. Surya Narayan Mishra
Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India.
E-mail : surya.mishra@kims.ac.in
Introduction: Enteric fever is one of the most prevalent community acquired infection especially in the developing countries; caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi, Paratyphi A and Paratyphi B. The Widal test is a well-known test to detect the serological evidences of presence of Salmonella groups. As the baseline Widal titre varies substantially region wise; updating the baseline Widal titre among the healthy individuals is a must for the proper interpretation of the Widal test.
Aim: To determine the baseline Widal titre (titre of the antibodies to the O and H antigens of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and the H-antigens of S. Paratyphi A and Paratyphi B) amongst apparently healthy individuals of Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Materials and Methods: To determine the baseline Widal titre among apparently healthy individuals of Bhubaneswar; a prospective study covering 500 blood samples was conducted using tube Widal test. Healthy young individuals who were neither vaccinated nor have a recent hospitalization history were included in the study.
Results: Out of the total 500 serum samples, 340 were positive for agglutinins (1 = in 20) and 160 serum samples were negative for agglutinin (1 = in 20). The distribution of the samples with an antibody titre = 1:20 against different serotypes of Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica showed an antibody to anti O antigen in 340 samples (68%), an antibody to anti H antigen in 292 samples (58.4%), an antibody to anti AH antigen in 268 (53.6%), an antibody to anti BH antigen in 224 samples (44.8%) out of the total 500 samples. The baseline titre for Widal test in apparently healthy individuals of Bhubaneswar was calculated to be: 1:40 for the anti TO antibodies and of 1:20 each for the anti- TH, anti AH and anti BH antibodies.
Conclusion: It is clear that Salmonella agglutinins are common among apparently healthy people and as endemicity of typhoid in an area may change over time, information of baseline titre will help a better clinical diagnosis and treatment to the deserving patients.
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