DETECTION OF SALMONELLA SPECIES FROM SURFACE WATER OF KATHMANDU VALLEY
Manita Aryal*
ABSTRACT
In Kathmandu Valley, the rivers are the sites of direct sewage discharge. The Bagmati river water was screened
for the presence of typhoidal Salmonella species. Detection of Salmonella species reflects serious public health
concern. The research was carried out for 6 months and all together 450 ml of 40 water samples from different
locations were collected in sterilized plastic bottle and delivered to Central Department of Microbiology,
Tribhuvan University, Nepal. The pH of was determined by pH meter. Total aerobic count and fecal coliform
count was determined by spread plate technique. Salmonella species were isolated by Primary enrichment,
secondary enrichment followed by standard microbiological technique. The average geometric mean of total
aerobic count was 2.8*1014cfu/100ml. The average geometric mean of fecal coliform count was 3.1*1012cfu/ml.
Salmonella Typhi and Paratyphi A was isolated from 37.5% of total water samples. Positive co-relation was
established between urban samples and fecal coliform count (r=0.533) and the association was statistically
significant (p<0.02) at 0.01 level (2 tailed). However, negative correlation was established between fecal coliform
count and presence of Salmonella species (r=-0.033) and the association was statistically insignificant (p>0.05) at
0.01 level (2 tailed). The most important role has been played by environmental surveillance in disease control.
This study was the crucial indication for possible outbreak of Salmonella species infection anytime in future,
reflects improper disposal of sewage samples as well as river water requires treatment before irrigation or
any human use.
Keywords: Bagmati river, Salmonella Species, Sewage, Enteric fever, Irrigation.
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