Comparison of the widal test and a modified 2-mercaptoethanol widal test for the diagnosis of enteric fevers

Abstract EN

Objectives : 1.

Develop a modified version of slide Widal test (2-mercaptoethanol modified Widal test) to differentiate between current / recent and previous typhoid and paratyphoid (enteric) fevers.

2.

Evaluate the utility of the 2ME- modified Widal test (2ME-MWT) Design : A comparative study between conventional Widal test, and 2ME-MWT in the light of bacterial culture of clinical specimens.

Results : Three hundred and fifty individuals suspected to have enteric fevers (ENFS) were studied in Mosul City, Iraq.

These patients were 246 (70.3 %) females and 104 (29.7 %) males with age ranged from 5- 84 years`(X ± ± SD = 32 ± 0.8).

They were all tested by conventional Widal and 2ME-MWT as well by culture of their blood, stool and urine.

It was found that 200 / 350 (57.1 %) of tested patients had positive Widal test (titer ³ ≥ 1 / 160), while only 22 (11 %) had positive 2ME-MWT.

When these results were evaluated in the light of the culture findings, it was found that the positive predictive value (PPV) of the conventional Widal test was 10.5 %, while that of 2ME-MWT was 77.3 %.

Conclusion : The 2ME-MWT can be considered as a valuable test for the differentiation between current / recent and previous typhoid and paratyphoid fevers.