Journal of Human Virology & Retrovirology Antibiotic Susceptibility and Carriage Rate of Salmonella Serotypes among Healthy Individuals with History of Salmonella Infection within One Year in a University Community in Nigeria Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com Introduction Salmonella infection commonly refers to as Salmonellosis is an infectious disease of humans and animals caused by organisms of the two species of Salmonella (Salmonella enterica, and Salmonella bongori). Globally, Salmonella enterica serotypes causes up to 27 million infections occur per year, with over 2x10 5 attributable deaths annually, predominantly among children under the age of five years [1]. Within this genus, more than 2,500 serovars have been described [2,3] Although all serovars may be regarded as potential human pathogens but majority of the infection is caused by few serovars. Salmonellosis is an important health problem and a major challenge worldwide having greater significance in developing countries [4]. It also contributes to negative economic impacts due to the cost of surveillance investigation, treatment and prevention of illness [5]. Salmonella organisms are aetiological agents of diarrhea and systemic infections in humans. Enteric fever (typhoid or paratyphoid fever) is a systemic infection caused by several Salmonella enterica serotypes including Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A, B, or C. Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (S. typhi) is a human restricted pathogen [6,7]. The incidence of typhoid fever remains very high in impoverished areas and the emergence of multidrug resistance had made the situation worse [8]. This group of microorganisms adapts to a wide range of foods, becomes endemic and causes high morbidity with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations such as diarrhea, nausea, abdominal cramps, vomiting and fever [5]. Transmission is by the faecal-oral route whereby the intestinal contents of an infected animal are ingested with food or water. Human carriers are generally less important than animals in transmission of Salmonella strains. Meat, poultry products, dairy products, and fruits and vegetables are primary transmission vehicles; they may be undercooked, allowing the Salmonella strains to survive, or they may cross- contaminate other foods consumed without further cooking [9]. Following oral uptake, Salmonella are exposed to stressful environments such as low pH, antimicrobial effect of bile, decreasing oxygen supply, normal gut flora and metabolites, cationic antimicrobial peptides present on the surface of epithelial cells. Salmonella invades a host cell by delivering into the cytoplasm virulence factors which directly interact with host regulators of actin polymerization which leads to bacterial uptake. It biosynthesizes a virulence capsular polysaccharide named as Vi antigen. Moreover, Salmonella avoids vacuole lyses and modulates the early and late endosomal markers presented in the vacuole membrane [10]. Volume 3 Issue 6 - 2016 1 Department of Microbiology, Ekiti State University, Nigeria 2 Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria 3 Department of Microbiology, Ekiti State University, Nigeria 4 University Health Centre, Ekiti State University, Nigeria 5 Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Hallym University, South Korea *Corresponding author: Oloruntuyi Adedayo Blessing, Department of Microbiology, School of Science. Federal University of Technology Akure, Nigeria, Tel: +2348067338756, Email: Received: August 13, 2016 | Published: October 14, 2016 Review Article J Hum Virol Retrovirol 2016, 3(6): 00113 Abstract The increase in the rate of carrier of typhoid fever is on the increase in the recent time and this present a serious threat to the public health. Students in most cases are living in densely populated hostels with poor sanitary conditions. This coupled with poor hygienic practices constitute pre-disposing factors. This study investigates the carriage rate and antibiotic resistance profile of Salmonella among students in a tertiary institution who had suffered gastroenteritis and typhoid fever within one year of infection. Seventy four (74) stool samples were obtained from students in the university. Isolates were identified using standard methods, subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility by disc diffusion method. The incidence of the infection was found to be highest among participants of 20 - 24 years age group. Fifty-one (51) faecal samples were positive for enteric pathogens. Six (11.76%) Salmonella species were isolated from stool culture and all were Salmonella paratyphi B serotype. All the Salmonella paratyphi B showed hundred percent (100%) resistance to Ceftazidime, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin clavulanic acid and Cefuroxime but were susceptible to Ofloxacin and Ciprofloxacin. High carriage of Salmonella observed from this study calls for proactive action since most of the isolates were resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotic drugs. Keywords: Salmonella; Salmonellosis; Antimicrobial resistance; Gastroenteritis; Typhoid fever