Salmonella enterica typhi Essay -- Medical Health Biology Essays

Salmonella enterica typhi Introduction: Worldwide, typhoid fever affects roughly 17 million people annually, causing nearly 600,000 deaths. The causative agent, Salmonella enterica typhi (referred to as Salmonella typhi from now on), is an obligate parasite that has no known natural reservoir outside of humans. Little is known about the historical emergence of human S. typhi infections, however it is thought to have caused the deaths of many famous figures such as British author and poet Rudyard Kipling, the inventor of the airplane, Wilbur Wright, and the Greek Empire’s Alexander the Great. The earliest recorded epidemic occurred in Jamestown, VA where it is thought that 6,000 people died of typhoid fever in the early 17th Century. This disease is rare in the United States and developed nations, but always poses the risk of emergence. History: Originally isolated in 1880 by Karl J. Erberth, S. typhi is a multi-organ pathogen that inhabits the lympathic tissues of the small intestine, liver, spleen, and bloodstream of infected humans. It is not known to infect animals and is most common in developing countries with poor sanitary systems and lack of antibiotics, putting travelers to Asia, Latin America, and Africa in a high risk group. Of the 266 people infected in the United States in 2002, approximately 70% had traveled internationally within 6 weeks of the onset of disease. Microbiological Characteristics: This gram-negative enteric bacillus belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a motile, facultative anaerobe that is susceptible to various antibiotics. Currently, 107 strains of this organism have been isolated, many containing varying metabolic characteristics, levels of virulence, and multi-drug r... ...asters have compromised sanitation. Although the incidence in the United States is very low, outbreaks and substantial epidemics still remain possible due to worldwide travel and unknowing carriers of the disease. The development of antibiotic treatments and several vaccines have presented the possibility of worldwide eradication. Until this is achieved, however, S. typhi and its characteristic typhoid fever will remain a threat for future epidemics. References Cited: Dennis Kunkel Microscopy, Inc. Health Canada: MSDS of Infectious Substances World Health Organization: Typhoid Fever Fact Sheet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Typhoid Fever Disease Information University of Florida Medical Micribiology and Infectious Diseases Department: Salmonella typhi Info Wikipedia.org: Typhoid Fever U. of Maryland Medical news: Typhoid Fever