Contaminated roof-collected water as a possible cause of an outbreak of salmonellosis

Roof-collected rainwater is a common source in subtropical regions and has not been associated with human illness. In Trinidad, the West Indies, a church group attending a rural camp, developed gastrointestional illness, caused by Salmonella arechevalata. This rare serotype was isolated from stool specimens of campers, food eaten at the camp, and a water tap, which was supplied by a storage tank of roof collected rainwater. The surface of the roof, used as water catchment, was covered with bird faeces. It is postulated that rainwater, falling on the roof, washed off animal excrement which contained S. archevalata and led to the outbreak of salmonellosis through camper ingestion of contaminated food and water.(Summary)