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Contaminated roof-collected rainwater as a possible cause of an outbreak of salmonellosis*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

J. P. Koplan ,
R. Doug Deen ,
W. H. Swanston  and
B. Tota
J. P. Koplan
Affiliation:
Caribbean Epidemiology Centre, Pan American Health Organization, Port of Spain, Trinidad
R. Doug Deen
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Government of Trinidad and Tobago
W. H. Swanston
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Government of Trinidad and Tobago
B. Tota
Affiliation:
Ministry of Health, Government of Trinidad and Tobago
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Summary

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Roof-collected rainwater is a common water source in subtropical regions and has not been associated with human illness. In Trinidad, the West Indies, a church group, attending a rural camp, developed gastrointestinal illness, caused by Salmonella arechevalata. This rare serotype was isolated from stool specimens of campers, foods eaten at the camp, and a water tap, which was supplied by a storage tank of roof-collected rainwater. The surface of the roof, used as water catchment, was covered with bird faeces. It is postulated that rainwater, falling on the roof, washed off animal excrement which contained S. arechevalata and led to the outbreak of salmonellosis through camper ingestion of contaminated food and water.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 81 , Issue 2 , October 1978 , pp. 303 - 309
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

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