Serotyping of Salmonella strains in south-west Nigeria: epidemiological aspects.

Abstract

In June 1986, 216 stool samples from Abeokuta (Ogun State, Nigeria) were examined for Salmonella. The samples were taken from people of all age groups: 162 samples were diarrheal. Salmonella could be isolated in nine samples (4.16%). The high prevalence of Salmonella among children under the age of 5 was striking; seven out of 79 samples (8.86%) were positive. The following serotypes were identified: S.mbandaka, S.gold coast, S.durham, S.antsalova, S.wippra, S.agama and S.isangi. S.agama and S.durham were also identified from household wall lizards which are an important reservoir for Salmonella in West Africa.