Salmonella infection in children from the wastewater-spreading zone of Marrakesh city (Morocco).

The available circumstantial evidence gained from epidemiological and microbiological investigations suggests that the use of untreated wastewater causes an excess of Salmonella infection among children living in El Azzouzia (the wastewater-spreading area of Marrakesh city, Morocco) compared with those from a control area that does not practice sewage irrigation (Sidi Moussa). The prevalence in the exposed group (32.56%) was significantly (P < 0. 001) higher than for the control group (1.14%). Serogroups B and C were the most commonly isolated. Boys were at greater risk (37.61%) of contracting Salmonella infection than girls (26.66%). Age-specified rates showed that children of less than 10 years old were infected at a higher rate than older children in the area (exposed group), with 40.32% and 19.72% rates of infection, respectively. Crop irrigation with untreated wastewater caused a significantly higher rate of infection with Salmonella in the children of agricultural workers (39.33%) than in the children of non-agriculturists (24.58%).