[Current aspects of human salmonellosis in Upper Volta. Study carried out at Centre Muraz (Bobo-Dioulasso) from 1966 to 1977: isolation of 1,013 Salmonella strains]

In a long term research programme of Centre Muraz a study on salmonellosis in Upper Volta has been carried out, at Bobo-Dioulasso, from 1966 to 1977. Investigations have been executed at Centre Muraz, at Bobo-Dioulasso hospital and at Ouagadougou hospital. All the strains of Salmonella were collected at Centre Muraz by biology laboratory, which is a reference service for Upper Volta. This country is include; among the 32 countries which collaborate with W.H.O. and are involved in the world epidemiological surveillance of salmonellosis. For twelve years, 1.013 Samonella strains have been isolated : 1.002 from man and only 11 from animals. The study, which is presented, deals with human salmonellosis. These diseases have been considered from several points of view : bacteriology, clinic, treatment and epidemiology. The various origins of these strains have been specified. The different technics used for diagnosis are discussed briefly : hemoculture (for typhoïd fever and few other types of salmonellosis), coproculture (for “minor” salmonellosis) are the most common and useful methods. Among the 1.013 which have been found, S. typhi is highly predominant (67 p. 100). In the other hand, S. dublin and S. typhi murium play an important role in the various serotypes which occured. A total of 76 serotypes, already known elsewhere, but found for the first time in Upper Volta, have been observed. Three new serotypes have been described : S. bobo, S. kua and S. farakan. As far as clinical problem is concerned, two main aspects are frequent : either typhoid fever syndrome (caused by S. typhi and, scarcely, by other germs, like S. dublin) or gastrointestinal infections, which present different forms and are more or less severe. Up to now, one single strain of S. typhi murium, suspected to be resistant to chloramphenicol has been isolated in 1977. Such a problem would need more complete research in a reference centre. Otherwise, no epidemic multiresistance has been observed. Checking strictly all the strains by systematic antibiograms is now absolutly essential in the plan of a steady epidemiological surveillance.