Human salmonellosis in Jamaica 1962-1966

ABSTRACT

Human salmonella isolates in Jamaica during the period 1962-66 have been reviewed. There were 843 isolates of S. typhi and 552 isolates of other salmonella serotypes in this five-year period. Type E1 continued to be the most prevalent typhoid Vi phage type. S. typhimurium accounted for approimately 35 percent of non-typhi salmonella isolates. The number of S.infantis isolates has risen markedly since 1963. Examination of some of the epidemiologic features of salmonellosis in Jamaica showed that the apparent incidence of typhoid fever, as judged by reported cases, reported deaths, and number of isolates, declined over the past decade. There has been no discernible trend in the yearly frequency of isolates of other serotypes. As elsewhere, the majority of isolates are from children. The peak age-incidence of laboratory confirmed S. typhi infections is in the 5-9 age group; for other salmonelloses the peak is in children less than 1. The seasonal distribution of non-typhi salmonella isolates presents abi-modal curve with peaks in April and October. These peaks correspond roughly to the two Jamaican rainy seasons. The significance of this finding, if any, remains to be elucidated (AU)