Genetic and biochemical detection of Salmonella enterica isolated from patients suffering watery diarrhea and typhoid fever in Babylon Province

Background: Salmonellosis is a severe infectious zoonotic disease, which increases the importance of identifying and controlling the causative strains. Objectives: This study aimed to develop a rapid molecular diagnostic test to determine and purify bacterial isolates based on the specific primer. SE1472298-2 for Salmonella serovar enteritidis; gene STM4497 demonstrated specificity for Salmonella serovar typhimurium and gene O antigen synthesis tyv for Salmonella serovar typhi isolated from patients in Babylon province, Iraq. Materials and Methods: Two hundred clinical stool specimens were collected from patients suffering from watery diarrhea. Blood specimens obtained from patients with typhoid fever who were admitted to three hospitals of Babylon Governorate. Results: There were a total of 200 samples; 34 (17%) were discovered by biochemical tests. The diagnosis of these samples was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, depending on the target gene, so the number of isolates was 25 (73.53%), Salmonella enteritidis 13 (52%) Salmonella typhimurium 6 (24%), and Salmonella typhi 6 (24%). Conclusion: Molecular techniques, particularly polymerase chain reaction, can rapidly and precisely identify Salmonella isolates.