Salmonella Typhi Essay

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Salmonella Typhi Meliza Simeon Kaplan College Salmonella typhi Salmonella typhi was originally isolated in 1880 by Karl J. Erberth in spleen sections and mesenteric lymph nodes from a patient who died from typhoid. In 1881, Robert Koch confirmed a related finding by Gaffky and accomplished in cultivating the bacterium. Although, separation of the typhoid bacillus from other enteric bacteria was undetermined due to the lack of differential characters. “In 1896, it was demonstrated that the serum from an animal immunized with the typhoid bacillus agglutinated (clumped) the typhoid bacterial cells, and it was shown that the serum of patients afflicted with typhoid likewise agglutinated the typhoid bacillus. Serodiagnosis of typhoid was thus made possible by 1896” (Todar, 2009). Habitat/Reservoir It inhabits the lymphatic tissues of the small intestines, liver, spleen, and the bloodstream of infected humans only. It is not known to infect animals. S. typhi is most commonly found in countries with poor sanitation systems and lack of antibiotics, putting Africa, Asia, and Latin America in a high risk group. In the United States about four hundred cases occur each year, and 75% of these are acquired while traveling internationally. (“Typhoid Fever”, 2010). Morphology and Virulence Factors S. typhi is a gram-negative enteric bacillus that belongs in the family of Enterobacteriaceae. It is a motile, facultative anaerobe that is susceptible to numerous antibiotics. Presently, one hundred seven strains of this organism have been isolated. Many of these strains contain varying metabolic characteristics, levels of virulence, and multi-drug resistance genes that complicate treatment in areas that resistance is prevalent. S. typhi has a medley of characteristics that make it an effective pathogen. This species has an

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