Transmission dynamics for invasive Non-Typhoidal Salmonella serovars in Africa (TiNTS)

Salmonella bacteria can infect humans. They are usually found in food, water, people or animals: they enter through the mouth and travel to the gut, causing diarrhoea. Certain types of Salmonella are good at escaping the gut, leading to a serious infection of the bloodstream or lining of the brain. These "invasive" Salmonellae are most commonly found in Africa. We know that the most common "invasive" Salmonella bacteria are Salmonella Typhimurium ST313 ("ST313"): these bacteria share the same genetic code. Unlike other Salmonellae, we have not found their usual habitat. It may be that they have made their niche among humans, water, or both. We want to find out how Salmonella, including ST313, circulate within households in Africa. We will identify households in Malawi where at least one person is carrying Salmonella. We will see whether different people in the same household become infected with genetically identical Salmonella bacteria over time. Where we find genetically identical bacteria in different people, or in the household environment, we will build a picture of how the bacteria spread. This will allow us to identify ways to break the cycle of transmission, and ultimately tackle the disease that Salmonellae cause.