The distribution and significance of typhoid Vi agglutinins in normal sera of African natives

656 samples of sera taken at random from natives in Southern Rhodesia were examined for the presence of typhoid Vi agglutinins. 2. Forty-nine or 7·47% were shown to contain Vi agglutinins in titres of 1 in 5 to 1 in 12·5. 3. Samples of faeces and urine from twenty-six of the positive Vi reactors were cultured for Bact. typhosum , which was isolated from only one individual who was shown to be a chronic urinary carrier. 4. The significance of these findings is discussed.