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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1969 April; 17(4): 507-511
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Immunofluorescent Identification of Salmonella typhi During a Typhoid Outbreak

Microbial Diseases Laboratory, California State Department of Public Health, Berkeley, California 94704

ABSTRACT

Immunofluorescence and conventional bacteriological methods were compared for their ability to detect Salmonella typhi in 134 fecal specimens from 105 individuals associated with an outbreak of typhoid fever. Smears prepared from untreated fecal material (direct method) and after a preliminary incubation in selenite F broth (delayed method) were tested with an anti-Vi serum conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate. The delayed method was more sensitive than the direct method in detecting S. typhi. The delayed method was positive in 40 of 41 patients positive by culture methods, but gave positive or questionable reactions in 11 presumably uninfected individuals. The fluorescent-antibody test employing a Vi conjugate is a satisfactory screening procedure for detecting S. typhi, but all positives must be confirmed bacteriologically.