Sacroiliitis Causing Salmonella Typhi

Abstract

Letters to the EditorSacroiliitis Causing Salmonella Typhi Subhash C. AryaMBBS, DCP, DipBact, PhD Subhash C. Arya Centre for Logistical Research and Innovation, M-122 (of Part 2), Greater Kailash-II, New Delhi 110048 India Search for more papers by this author Published Online:1 Jul 1998https://doi.org/10.5144/0256-4947.1998.370SectionsPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload citationTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail AboutIntroductionSC Arya, Sacroiliitis Causing Salmonella Typhi. 1998; 18(4): 370-370To the Editor: The clinical and laboratory features of two patients with sacroiliitis caused by Salmonella typhi have been comprehensively described in a recent issue of the Annals.1 While one of the isolates was sensitive to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and co-trimexazole, the other was totally resistant to them. Both strains of the S. typhi responsible for two of the five known cases of sacroiliitis should be characterized for chromosomal electrophoresis pattern, plasmids and Vi phage patterns. Chromosomal DNA from 52 isolates of S. typhi was digested with three restriction endonucleases and subjected to a pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The isolates from Papua, New Guinea, were reported to be sensitive to 16 antibiotics, and were devoid of plasmids.2 The PFGE pattern combination of X1S1A1 was manifest in all isolates from patients with fatal typhoid fever, while patients with non-fatal infections exhibited different combinations. PFG electrophoresis performed on two strains from Qatar for their pattern combinations might establish both qualitative and quantitative polymorphism characteristics that might be linked to the potential of S. typhi isolates to cause sacroiliitis.1 Knowledge of such PFGE characteristics might be predictive of aberrant manifestations of S. typhi attributable to their multiplication at rare and unusual sites in the body. It would be desirable to examine these isolates for the presence of plasmids, especially the high-molecular-weight ones commonly associated with antibiotic resistance of S. typhi. They could complicate the interpretation of PFGE patterns through their DNA fragments.3 The two strains differ in their antibiotic sensitivity pattern.1 They might differ in their Vi polysaccharide quantum and phage-typing profile. Many strains of S. typhi have an antigen and cannot be typed by Vi phages. Such strains have been widely known since the 1960s.4 Between 1990 and 1993, of the 1500 strains of S. typhi isolated in South Africa, 125 were Vi-negative and could not be typed by Vi phages.5 In Qatar, where approximately 40 new cases of typhoid are diagnosed annually, a surveillance of Vi-negative S. typhi strains would be desirable to ascertain the possibility of success of Vi-polysaccharide vaccine for S. typhi infection. In all probability, Vi antibodies induced by Vi-polysaccharide vaccine would not be protective against episodes of typhoid fever caused by Vi-polysaccharide S. typhi.ARTICLE REFERENCES:1. Alsoub H. "Sacroiliitis due to Salmonella typhi: a report of two cases" . Ann Saudi Med. 1997; 17: 331–3. Google Scholar2. Thong KL, Passey M, Clegg A, Combs BG, Yassin RM, Pang T. "Molecular analysis of isolates of Salmonella typhi obtained from patients with fatal and nonfatal typhoid fever" . J Clin Microbiol. 1996; 34: 1029–33. Google Scholar3. Pang T. "Molecular analysis of isolates of Salmonella typhoid from patients with fatal or nonfatal or aberrant clinical presentations" . J Clin Microbiol. 1996; 34: 2340. Google Scholar4. International Committee for Enteric Phage Typing. "The geographical distribution of Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A and B phages during the period 1 January 1966 to 31 December 1969" . J Hyg Camb. 1973; 71: 59–84. Google Scholar5. "The geographical distribution of Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A and B phages during the period 1 January 1990 to 31 December 1994" . 7th International Congress of Applied Bacteriology and Applied Microbiology. Prague, Czechoslovakia, 3-8 July1994. IFEPT Report 1994: 4. Google Scholar Previous article Next article FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Volume 18, Issue 4July 1998 Metrics History Published online1 July 1998 InformationCopyright © 1998, Annals of Saudi MedicinePDF download