Abstract
Enteroaggregative (EAEC) and atypical enteropathogenic (EPEC) Escherichia coli are important bacterial etiologic agents causing diarrhea among children. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of virulence factors predisposes to diarrhea. In this study some virulence properties were examined on 11 EAEC and 8 EPEC strains identified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), isolated from stool samples of children were analyzed genotypically and phenoltypically for the prevalence of virulence factors. The most frequently detected factor was resistance to serum (94%), followed by curli fimbriae (78%), biofilm production (73%), and gene coding for Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) (68%). EPEC isolates showed at least three of the evaluated properties, while EAEC isolates showed at least two. The prevalence of these virulence factors between the two strains showed no statistical difference. This study showed the heterogeneity of the virulence profile of the isolates of EAEC and atypical EPEC strains and suggests that this diversity may influence in the disease severity.
Highlights
A survey by the World Health Organization (WHO), from 2002 to 2003, found that 73% of the 10.6 million annual deaths of children under five years old were related to five causes
In this study some virulence properties were examined on 11 Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and 8 EPEC strains identified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), isolated from stool samples of children were analyzed genotypically and phenoltypically for the prevalence of virulence factors
This study showed the heterogeneity of the virulence profile of the isolates of EAEC and atypical EPEC strains and suggests that this diversity may influence in the disease severity
Summary
A survey by the World Health Organization (WHO), from 2002 to 2003, found that 73% of the 10.6 million annual deaths of children under five years old were related to five causes. Despite recent studies showing that there was a significant reduction in infant mortality rates due to diarrhea from 4.6 million per year to approximately 2.5 million per year worldwide, such values are still considered high and the morbidity rates remain as high as 30 years ago [2]. Several pathogens such as bacteria, viruses and intestinal parasites are related to diarrhea in humans.
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