Repository logo
 

A retrospective investigation of the population structure and geospatial distribution of Salmonella Paratyphi A in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Repository DOI


Change log

Authors

Pham Thanh, Duy 
Keane, Jacqueline A 
Dongol, Sabina 
Basnyat, Buddha 

Abstract

Salmonella Paratyphi A, one of the major etiologic agents of enteric fever, has increased in prevalence in recent decades in certain endemic regions in comparison to S. Typhi, the most prevalent cause of enteric fever. Despite this increase, data on the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of S. Paratyphi A remain generally scarce. Here, we analysed the whole genome sequences of 216 S. Paratyphi A isolates originating from Kathmandu, Nepal between 2005 and 2014, of which 200 were from patients with acute enteric fever and 16 from the gallbladder of people with suspected chronic carriage. By exploiting the recently developed genotyping framework for S. Paratyphi A (Paratype), we identified several genotypes circulating in Kathmandu. Notably, we observed an unusual clonal expansion of genotype 2.4.3 over a four-year period that spread geographically and systematically replaced other genotypes. This rapid genotype replacement is hypothesised to have been driven by both reduced susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and genetic changes to virulence factors, such as functional and structural genes encoding the type 3 secretion systems. Finally, we show that person-to-person is likely the most common mode of transmission and chronic carriers seem to play a limited role in maintaining disease circulation.

Description

Acknowledgements: We wish to thank all patients participating in the contributing clinical studies and the diagnostics services helping collecting samples.

Keywords

Nepal, Humans, Salmonella paratyphi A, Genotype, Retrospective Studies, Paratyphoid Fever, Male, Adult, Female, Young Adult, Adolescent, Child, Prevalence, Middle Aged, Molecular Epidemiology, Child, Preschool, Whole Genome Sequencing, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Phylogeny

Journal Title

PLoS Negl Trop Dis

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1935-2727
1935-2735

Volume Title

18

Publisher

Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (215515/Z/19/Z)