The Prevalence of Salmonellosis in Patients with Malaria Attending an Urban Hospital in Douala, Littoral Region, Cameroon

Aims: This study was carried out to determine the rate of co-infection of Malaria/typhoid fever among patients attending the hospital.

Study Design: The study was a hospital based cross-sectional.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Centre Medical Camrail, de Bassa (CMCD), Douala, Littoral Region, Cameroon, from April to May 2015.

Methods: One hundred and sixty (160) blood and stool Samples were collected. Blood samples were subjected to microscopic examination used for the malaria parasite. Widal agglutination slide and tube test were performed for the identification of antibodies to Salmonella typhi and stool culture used for isolation of Salmonella species.

Results: Overall malaria prevalence was 19.4% (31/160) with a geometric mean parasite density (GMPD) of 788.62±1945.763 parasites/µL of blood. The overall prevalence of typhoid fever by stool culture was 32.5% (52/160) while malaria/typhoid fever and malaria/non-typhoidal salmonella co-infection rates were 29% (9) and 7% (3) respectively. Of the positive malaria samples, 03 (4%) were identified as Salmonella typhi, 4 (5.3%) as S. typhimirium, 02 (2.6%) as S. paratyphi A and 03 (4%) as S. paratyphi B. They were no significant relationship between malaria and typhoid fever (χ2=.609; p= .738). Typhoid fever was grossly under diagnosed by Widal test 1.25% (2/160) compared to stool culture 34.4% (55/160).

Conclusion: The study showed the rate of co-infections of malaria and typhoid fever is relatively high. Malaria was the most prevalent disease among febrile patients in the study area. There was a substantial result discrepancy between Widal test and stool culture for the diagnosis of typhoid fever.