Detection of Salmonella typhi in Blood Specimens by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique

Abstract

This study was carried out in Khartoum state during the period between May 2007_ March 2008 to detect the presence of S. typhi in patients with suspected enteric fever. Forty-seven blood specimens were collected from patient at three hospitals: Khartoum Teaching Hospital, 14 (29%), Omdurman Teaching Hospitals, 28(59%) and Alengath Medical Center 6 (12%). S.typhi DNA was extracted directly from each blood specimens using phenol - chloroform technique. Real time PCR technique was adopted to detect presence of S. typhi. The result revealed that only 7 (15%) specimens were positive and 40 (85%) were negative. The study concluded that the real time PCR technique facilitates detection of S.typhi in blood of patients with suspected typhoid fever without bacteriological culture.