PA-500 Prevalence and genomic characterization of typhoidal and non-typhoidal Salmonellae in Ghana

• Published in: BMJ global health 2023-12, Vol.8 (Suppl 10), p.A90-A90
• Main Authors: Owusu, Michael, Twumasi-Ankrah, Sampson, Owusu-Ansah, Michael, Agyapong, Francis, Gyau, Kennedy, Senyo, Japhet, Ackah, Ezekiel Bonwin, Owusu-Dabo, Ellis, Adu-Sarkodie, Yaw
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abstracts of Poster and e-Poster Presentations; Epidemiology; Salmonella
• ISSN: 2059-7908
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-EDC.219

BackgroundSalmonella are a group of facultative anaerobic bacteria that belong to the family of Enterobacteriaceae. The common serovars are Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi which causes typhoid fever and the non-typhoidal Salmonellae (NTS) which are associated with gastroenteritis. Data on the epidemiology and genomic characteristics of Salmonellae in sub-Saharan African countries are limited.This study describes the epidemiology and genomic characterization of Salmonellae in Ghana. MethodsA prospective incidental hospital-based surveillance study among patients presenting with febrile illness from May, 2016 to April, 2023 was conducted in the Asante Akyem District of Ghana and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. Blood cultures were processed for identification of Salmonella using standard bacteriological techniques. A subset of Salmonella isolates were confirmed using real-time-PCR amplification targets for S.Typhi and invasive NTS. The concentration of DNA were quantified using nanodrop and shipped to Eurofins Genomics for illumina based sequencing. Raw reads were assembled and analysed using Pathogenwatch web tool. ResultsThe study enrolled 6,557 participants between the ages of 1 and 95 years of which 51.7% were males. The prevalence of Salmonella Typhi and NTS were 0.14% (95%CI: 0.096 – 1.5) and 0.33% (95%CI: 0.21% - 0.5%) respectively. Male gender (adj OR; 95%CI = 1.6; 0.93–2.75) and age group below 15 years (Adj OR; 95%CI=3.94; 1.67–9.3) had higher odds of infection with Salmonella Typhi. A subset of 42 Salmonella Typhi isolates sequenced, identified the predominant genotype as 2.3.2 (54.1%) followed by 3.1.1 (42.9%). Of 17 iNTS isolates sequenced, Typhimurium (10; 62.5%), Enteritidis (5; 31.3%), Poona (1; 6.2%) and Saintpaul (1; 6.2%) were identified. Common resistance markers identified were chloramphenicol resistance (catA1; 10/50), sulphonamides resistance (sul1; 10/50), beta-lactam (9/10) and trimethoprim (dfrA; 10/50). ConclusionThe increasing rate of resistance and endemicity of infections emphasize the need for the introduction of vaccines to reduce disease burden.