title: Salmonellae carrier status of food vendors in Kumasi, Ghana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of chronic typhoidal salmonellae amongst food vendors in Kumasi Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sitting and itinerant food vendors in Kumasi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Screening of 258 (230 females of 28 males) healthy food vendors for Salmonella typhi, and S. paratyphi A, B, and C, using stool culture, the widal test, and standard microbiological identification methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prevalence of chronic typhoidal Salmonellae carriers among food vendors in Kumasi.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Typhoidal Salmonellae were isolated from six people, giving a carriage rate of 2.3%. Three of the Salmonellae isolated were S. typhi, and they had significant Widal agglutinin titres of > or = 1/160 and > or = 1/320 for 0 and H antigens, respectively. The other three were non-typhoidal Salmonellae. The three had S. typhi and the other three had titres of 1/80 or less for both 0 and H antigens, respectively. We have discussed the implications of this high carriage rate, and we have suggested the inclusion of screening for Salmonellae of the regular health screening exercise undertaken by food handlers to detect and monitor chronic carriers in the food industry, to help control salmonella diseases in the community.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From our study, food handlers consitute a significant risk in the spread of enteric fever in Kumasi. We therefore, suggest the inclusion of screening for Salmonellae in the regular obligatory six-monthly examination required of food handlers and to monitor those found to be infected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medical Sciences, KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Feglo
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Frimpong
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Essel-Ahun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003132:Commerce; D005260:Female; D005522:Food Services; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*