Introduction
According to Boer et al. (2010), infectious gastroenteritis is a significant issue worldwide, resulting in millions of deaths each year, particularly in the developing world. Although mortality resulting from gastroenteritis in the developed world is low, the condition remains a public health concern with economic and social burdens apparent. Microorganisms responsible for gastroenteritis include viruses, parasites and bacterial pathogens (Boer et al. 2010). Four significant bacterial pathogens implicated in gastrointestinal infections include Salmonella, Campylobacter, Shigella (Boer et al. 2010), and Vibrio (Mazel et al. 1998). Salmonella is commonly found to infect poultry flocks and may become a causative agent in gastroenteritis …show more content…
& Bobak 1991). Included in this concern is laboratory acquired infection, in which enteric pathogens are significantly responsible (Weinstein & Singh 2009). Shigella species are one of the primary causes of laboratory-acquired infection due to high virulence and low infectious dose (Weinstein & Singh 2009). According to Zuckerman, Rombo and Fisch (2007), 80% of traveller’s diarrhoea is due to bacteria such as Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter and Vibrio; Vibrio cholera is prevalent in countries such as Africa, Asia, South America and Central America due to water and food contamination with faecal matter, crowded living conditions and limited sanitation. Despite difficulty in distinguishing between Vibrio gastroenteritis and other bacterial gastroenteritis, and the fact that approximately only 1% of cases are reported, severe cases of Vibrio cholera infection can result in a rapid death in 50% of patients if left untreated (Zuckerman, Rombo & Fisch 2007).The correct isolation and identification of the causative agent in enteric infection is imperative to the approach taken to clinically treat patients with particular types of gastroenteritis, particularly in severe cases (Zuckerman, Rombo & Fisch 2007).Currently, the detection of enteric pathogens is routinely performed via the use of conventional diagnostic methods such as culture and microscopy; conventional methods involve the use of selective media, biochemical identification, serotyping and resistance