Abstract:
Food borne diseases continue to be a major public health problem in the
developed and developing worlds alike. This study was done to assess the
pathogenic Salmonella species amongst food handlers working in
cafeterias in Khartoum Province during the period from April to
September 2013.
The enrolled food handlers working in cafeterias inside campuses of
Sudan University of Science and Technology and other cafaterias
distributed in Khartoum Province. Stool specimens were collected from
each food handler in sterile, wide mouthed container. The specimens
were inoculated on selenite F broth as enrichment medium then subcultured
on XLD and SSA for primary isolation of pathogenic Salmonella
species. Identification of Salmonella species was carried out by colonial
morphology, Gram's stain and biochemical tests.
Amongst the 200 food handlers enrolled in this study, the majority
196(98%) were males. The rest 4(2%) were females. Of the 200 stool
specimens investigated, only 8(4%) isolates were Salmonella paratyphi
B. The isolates recovered from six males and two females. All isolates
were recovered from food handlers working in cafeterias outside
campuses of the university.
It is conducted that a considerable number (n=8) of food handlers
shedding Salmonella paratyphi B. Further studies are required to validate
this result.
