Stools Of Children Research Articles

Enteric Adenovirus Gastroenteritis in Under-Five Children, Kano-Nigeria

Abstract Context: Adenoviruses have been implicated in many outbreaks and sporadic cases of pediatric gastroenteritis. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and circulating serotype(s) of enteric adenoviruses among under-five children with diarrheal diseases in Kano, Nigeria. Settings and Designs: This was a multicentered hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 250 under-five children recruited from Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital and Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital. Materials and Methods: Enteric adenovirus F40/F41 were checked in the stools of children exhibiting symptoms of gastroenteritis, diarrhea, and/or vomiting by nested PCR amplification of the adenovirus Hexa/E1B regions and positive samples characterized by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Statistical Analysis Used: Data generated were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and the association between the variables was checked by the Chi-square test. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The nested PCR result shows that 7 (2.8%) out of the 250 stools were positive for enteric adenovirus (group F), with only serotype F41 detected within the cohort examined. The isolates were more closely related to KJ425126 from Gabon. The results highlighted that fever and vomiting are prominent features of adenovirus F41 gastroenteritis and children 1–2 years especially males were mostly affected. Conclusion: The study improved our knowledge and understanding of the role of enteric adenovirus in under-five gastroenteritis and suggests that EAdeV-F41 is an important cause of gastrointestinal infections, particularly in infants and young children in Kano, Nigeria. This may call for routine screening of the stools of children with diarrhea for future management guidelines.

Magnitude of enteric pathogens associated with diarrhea and antibiotic resistance of enteric bacterial pathogens isolated among children under 5 years of age in Bule Hora town, West Guji, Ethiopia.

Diarrhea is the second leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide among all ages, and one of the leading causes of poor health and premature death in the developing world. Microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites, are responsible for enteric infections among children. Excessive and inappropriate use of antimicrobial drugs and poor infection control practices have transformed antimicrobial resistance into a serious threat to public health worldwide. Therefore, it is essential to investigate the prevalence of enteric pathogens and the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of bacterial pathogens. Assess the prevalence of enteric pathogens associated with diarrhea in children under 5 years at the Bule Hora Health Facility in 2021. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2021 to July 2021 in a Bule Hora Health Centre and Hospital. A total of 422 children with diarrhea were included in the study in the outpatient department. Sociodemographic and associated factors were evaluated using a pre-tested questionnaire. A sufficient amount of stool specimens was collected following standard microbiological procedures. An antigen detection kit was used to diagnose rotaviruses, parasites were examined using microscopy, and bacterial identification was carried out by culture and biochemical tests. The antibiotic susceptibility test of the bacterial isolates was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The p-value less than 0.05 was declared statistically significant. The overall prevalence of enteropathogens in children under 5 years of age was 17%, with no mixed infections detected. Of this, 7.8% of the children's stool samples contained bacterial pathogens, 5% tested positive for rotavirus, and 4.2% contained intestinal parasites. Unprotected drinking water sources, poor carrier hand washing practices, and poor cleaning of utensils for child feeding were factors significantly associated with the prevalence of enteropathogens. Bacterial isolates have shown a high prevalence of resistance to amoxicillin. Therefore, it is important to take steps to reduce the spread of enteric pathogens among children under 5 years practicing good hygiene, ensuring sanitation, and providing clean drinking water. We recommend performing antimicrobial susceptibility tests before prescribing treatment to children with diarrhea.

Longitudinal Microbiome Changes in Children Exposed to Proton Pump Inhibitors.

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use has been associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections in children. There are limited longitudinal data on the effect of PPI in children. The goal of this prospective observational study was to compare the stool and oropharyngeal microbiome of children before and after starting PPIs. We prospectively recruited participants from a gastroenterology clinic. Consented participants provided stool samples and oropharyngeal swabs at baseline and after 8 weeks of PPI therapy. Microbiome changes were measured by analyzing 16S sequencing from both body sites at both time points. Thirty-four participants completed the study and provided samples both at baseline and after 8 weeks on PPI therapy. Of those, 24 participants had sufficient sequencing from both stool and oropharyngeal samples at both time points. There were no differences between the pre-PPI and post-PPI samples using beta-diversity metrics in either the oropharynx or stool. There were, however, significant changes in specific taxa. There was an enrichment of Streptococcus in the stool after PPI use and a reduction in the relative abundance of Bifidobacterium , Peptostreptococcus , and Turicibacter ( P -values < 0.01). Furthermore, there was an increase in the relative abundance of oropharyngeal bacteria in the stool after PPI therapy. This enrichment of oropharyngeal bacteria in the stool was most prominent in younger participants. Further investigation is needed to determine the clinical and microbial factors that predispose or protect against microbiome changes due to PPI use and why young children are more susceptible to this PPI effect.

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Stool of Children (≤ 5 years) Suffering from Diarrhoea Attending Selected Hospitals in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Stool of Children (≤ 5 years) Suffering from Diarrhoea Attending Selected Hospitals in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria.

Characterization of enteroviruses circulating among farm animals and children in Central African Republic

ABSTRACT To characterize enteroviruses (EVs) circulating in farm animals in Central African Republic (CAR), we screened 192 stools of animals under 12 months belonging to family farms located in or near Bangui. To assess whether EV exchanges exist between these animals and humans, we also screened 195 stools of children who lived in contact with farm animals, as well as control stools of 358 children with no contact with farm animals. EVs were typed based on their capsid sequences. In children, all EVs belonged to species A, B and C, with EV-Cs accounting for 60%. Some EV-Cs shared recent common ancestors with lineages of vaccine-derived poliovirus that emerged in the country in 2019–2020. In animals, we identified EV-Gs that belonged to 10 different types, including a previously unknown one that we named EV-G28, while no EV-E or EV-F were observed. The CAR EV-Gs were genetically closely related to specimens sampled in other continents and some of them harboured the torovirus-derived insertion already reported in some EV-Gs. The worldwide circulation of EV-Gs is likely due the massive international trade of live animals. Besides, two human EV-Cs (coxsackievirus A17 and coxsackievirus A24) were detected in pigs, suggesting that these viruses could cross the species barrier. Our work provides original data on the epidemiology and ecology of EVs circulating among herd animals in Africa.

Use of Deep-Amplicon Sequencing (DAS), Real-Time PCR and In Situ Hybridization to Detect H. pylori and Other Pathogenic Helicobacter Species in Feces from Children.

Detecting Helicobacter pylori in fecal samples is easier and more comfortable than invasive techniques, especially in children. Thus, the objective of the present work was to detect H. pylori in feces from children by molecular methods as an alternative for diagnostic and epidemiological studies. Forty-five fecal samples were taken from pediatric patients who presented symptoms compatible with H. pylori infection. HpSA test, culture, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), direct viable count associated with FISH (DVC-FISH), and Illumina-based deep-amplicon sequencing (DAS) were applied. No H. pylori colonies were isolated from the samples. qPCR analysis detected H. pylori in the feces of 24.4% of the patients. In comparison, DVC-FISH analysis showed the presence of viable H. pylori cells in 53.3% of the samples, 37% of which carried 23S rRNA mutations that confer resistance to clarithromycin. After DAS, H. pylori-specific 16S rDNA sequences were detected in 26 samples. In addition, DNA from H. hepaticus was identified in 10 samples, and H. pullorum DNA was detected in one sample. The results of this study show the presence of H. pylori, H. hepaticus, and H. pullorum in children's stools, demonstrating the coexistence of more than one Helicobacter species in the same patient. The DVC-FISH method showed the presence of viable, potentially infective H. pylori cells in a high percentage of the children's stools. These results support the idea that fecal-oral transmission is probably a common route for H. pylori and suggest possible fecal-oral transmission of other pathogenic Helicobacter species.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella contributes to gastrointestinal infections in Morogoro: Evidence from patients attending Morogoro regional referral hospital in Tanzania.

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of food-borne outbreaks and infection worldwide. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) infections are common and remain a significant public health problem among important bacterial foodborne diseases. The current study aimed to establish the Non typhoidal Salmonella infection and antimicrobial resistance status among selected patients at Morogoro Regional Referral Hospital (MRRH), Morogoro Region, Tanzania, to inform clinical care management and public health interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted using medical records and samples were collected from hospitalised and outpatients between October and December 2021. A total of 153 participants were enrolled in the study and 132 consented to being sampled. The collected samples were analysed using standard microbiological techniques. The isolates were subjected to molecular genotyping, where Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was performed targeting the 16S rDNA gene. PCR products were then submitted for sequencing to establish phylogenetic relatedness. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and resistance genes screening were also conducted. The phylogenetic analysis identified two Salmonella serovars; Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium. The isolates were from four adults and seven children patients. The isolates were tested against six antimicrobial agents: tetracycline, trimethoprim, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, ampicillin and cefotaxime. Further antimicrobial assays were performed by screening 10 antimicrobial resistance genes using PCR. Overall, the highest resistance was observed in ampicillin (100%), whereas the lowest resistance was recorded for ciprofloxacin and gentamicin (9.1%). In addition, four (36.4%) of the isolates were resistant to cefotaxime and three (27.3%) to tetracycline and trimethoprim. The isolates also exhibit the presence of resistance genes for sulfamethoxazole 1&2, tetracycline (tet) A&B, Beta-lactamase CTXM, Beta-lactamase TEM, Beta-lactamase SHV, Gentamycine, Acra and acc3-1 in different occurrences. The overall prevalence of Salmonella species in Morogoro region was 8.3% (11/132) with Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium being the only serovars detected from adults and children stool samples. Our investigation showed that both children and adults had been exposed to Salmonella spp. However, the occurrence of NTS was higher in children (5.3% (7/132) compared to adults (3.0% (4/132). To stop zoonotic infections and the development of antimicrobial resistance in the community, this calls for Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and stewardship programmes on rational use of antimicrobials in both health facilities and at the community level.

Malian Children's Core Gut Mycobiome.

Because data on the fungal gut community structure of African children are scarce, we aimed to describe it by reanalysing rRNA ITS1 and ITS2 metabarcoding data from a study designed to assess the influence of microbiota in malaria susceptibility in Malian children from the Dogon country. More specifically, we aimed to establish the core gut mycobiome and compare the gut fungal community structure of breastfed children, aged 0-2 years, with other age groups. Briefly, DNA was extracted from 296 children's stool samples. Both rRNA ITS1 and ITS2 genomic barcodes were amplified and subjected to Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The ITS2 barcode generated 1,975,320 reads and 532 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), while the ITS1 barcode generated 647,816 reads and 532 OTUs. The alpha diversity was significantly higher by using the ITS1 compared to the ITS2 barcode (p < 0.05); but, regardless of the ITS barcode, we found no significant difference between breastfed children, aged 0-2 years, compared to the other age groups. The core gut mycobiome of the Malian children included Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans, Pichia kudriavzevii, Malassezia restricta, Candida tropicalis and Aspergillus section Aspergillus, which were present in at least 50% of the 296 children. Further studies in other African countries are warranted to reach a global view of African children's core gut mycobiome.

Isolation and Identification of Shigella SonneiProducing Shiga Toxin from Children with Bloody Diarrhea and Evaluation of the Inhibition Effectiveness of Zinc oxide Nanoparticles

Shigella infection strains producing shiga toxin results in bloody diarrheais a dangerous symptom in children under five years of age that can even lead to death. Therefore, this study was conducted to isolate Shigella strains producing shiga toxin from 150 samples which were taken from bloody stool of children under the five years of age. They were suffering from the diarrhea during the period from March 2021 to March 2022 in Tikrit city, Iraq. The results showed the possibility to isolate six isolates of Shigella sonnei at ratio 4% of the total samples. The isolates producing shiga toxin were identified by using stx1 gene. The results showed two isolates of Shigella possessing stx1 gene, at ratio 33.33 of total S. sonnei strains. The two isolates producing shiga toxin have been submitted to NCBI, then accepted as Iraqi strains in NCBI under the registration numbers OK127759.1 and OK127760.1. The Iraqi strains registered in NCBI showed agreement with a global strain of 99-100% that were recorded by registration numbers in Malaysia (CP060117.1), China (CP000038.1), United Kingdom (CP066810.1), Hungary (CP019689.1), Somalia (CP023645.1), Spain (CP022672.1), Italy (CP035008.1), India (CP041322.1), Australia (CP045932.1), Nigeria (CP046286.1), Switzerland (CP049183.1), USA (CP053751.1) and South Korea (CP055292.1). As for the sensitivity test, the results showed that the strain OK127759.1 was resistant to antibiotics azithromycin, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, augmentin and tetracycline. And it was sensitive to gentamicin and intermediately sensitive to ampicillin, chloramphenicol and nalidixic acid. As for the strain OK127760.1, the results showed his strain was intermediately sensitive to gentamicin and resistant to the other antibiotics which were used in the test. ZnO-NPs with a concentration of 200 μg/ml showed the highest inhibitory effectiveness against S. sonnei strains OK127759.1 and OK127760.1 with inhibition diameter of 22 mm and 21 mm respectively.

Exploring drivers of unsafe disposal of child stool in India using hierarchical regression model.

Disposal of children's stools is often neglected in Indian sanitation programs, putting them at higher risk of diseases transmitted through the fecal-oral route. Therefore, the current study aims to identify the socioeconomic and demographic factors associated with the unsafe disposal of child stool in India and to estimate the geographical variation in unsafe disposal. The study used 78,074 births under two years from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey (2019-21). Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis with the chi-square test, and a four-level hierarchical logistic regression model were applied to accomplish the study objectives. Findings revealed a 61.3% prevalence of unsafe stool disposal nationwide, significantly varying between rural (45%) and urban (67%) areas. Multilevel logistic regression highlighted that mother's education, wealth quintile, and sanitation facility were significant predictors of unsafe disposal of child stools. Random intercept statistics revealed a substantial geographical unit-level variance in unsafe stool practice in India. The study emphasizes the widespread unsafe disposal of child stool among Indian mothers with young children below two years, and the study underscores a range of contributing factors, including education, media exposure, prosperity, water availability, and sanitation. It also accentuates the significance of the geographical variance in the unsafe disposal of child stool in India, particularly at the household level, followed by the community level. Hence, the findings underscore the importance of focused interventions, including targeted household-level poverty alleviation programs, initiatives to enhance sanitation and water facilities, and community-level public health awareness programs.

Giardia intestinalis reshapes mucosal immunity toward a Type 2 response that attenuates inflammatory bowel-like diseases.

Diarrheal diseases are the second leading cause of death in children worldwide. Epidemiological studies show that co-infection with Giardia intestinalis decreases the severity of diarrhea. Here, we show that Giardia is highly prevalent in the stools of asymptomatic school-aged children. It orchestrates a Th2 mucosal immune response, characterized by increased antigen-specific Th2 cells, IL-25, Type 2-associated cytokines, and goblet cell hyperplasia. Giardia infection expanded IL-10-producing Th2 and GATA3+ Treg cells that promoted chronic carriage, parasite transmission, and conferred protection against Toxoplasma gondii-induced lethal ileitis and DSS-driven colitis by downregulating proinflammatory cytokines, decreasing Th1/Th17 cell frequency, and preventing collateral tissue damage. Protection was dependent on STAT6 signaling, as Giardia-infected STAT6-/- mice no longer regulated intestinal bystander inflammation. Our findings demonstrate that Giardia infection reshapes mucosal immunity toward a Type 2 response, which confers a mutualistic protection against inflammatory disease processes and identifies a critical role for protists in regulating mucosal defenses.

Factors associated with rural-urban safe disposal of children stools in Ghana

IntroductionThe burden of children’s disease in many low-and middle-income countries is associated with poor sanitation, including unsafe disposal of children’s stool. Infants and toddler stools pose a greater public health risk than adults. Studies on stool disposal in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Ghana have focused on prevalence, patterns, and associated factors. Nevertheless, these studies have not focused on factors that independently influence rural and/or urban child stool disposal. This study, therefore, examines factors associated with safe child stool disposal in rural areas separately from urban areas towards Ghana’s readiness for ending open defaecation by 2030.MethodologyWe examined young children’s faecal disposal drawing on the sixth round of the nationally-representative Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) conducted in 2017/18. This study was restricted to children under two years, yielding a sub-sample of 3,476. Responses of caregivers or mothers who disposed of children less than two years faecal matter, their characteristics in addition to the child’s age in months were analysed. A binary logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with the safe disposal of young children’s stools.ResultsIn the aggregated data, only 22% of households, regardless of their residence, dispose of their young children less than two years stools safely. From the disaggregated data, the rural analysis shows that 26% of young children’s stools were safely disposed of, compared to 16% in the urban analysis. The urban analysis shows that the child’s age, sex and caregiver’s marital status were significantly associated with safe disposal of stools. On the other hand, child’s age, caregiver listening to radio and household access to improved toilet facilities were significant in the rural analysis.ConclusionThe safe practice of stool disposal was very low. The results of this study show that urgent and different policies and strategies are needed to address child stool disposal in urban residences compared to rural residences if we are to meet SDG targets of ending open defaecation.

Stool microbiota analysis for abundance of genus Klebsiella among adults and children in endemic area for community Klebsiella pneumoniae infection

BackgroundInvasive Klebsiella pneumoniae syndrome is a significant endemic disease in Taiwan. Intestinal colonization of virulent clones that cause this phenomenon has been demonstrated in asymptomatic adults. Comparisons of healthy adults and children with stool K. pneumoniae colonization have rarely been reported. We aimed to evaluate the frequency and abundance of K. pneumoniae in the stool of adults and children by stool microbiota analysis. MethodsHealthy volunteers and their children without antibiotic exposure within 3 months were recruited in a Taiwanese medical center. Stool samples were sent for gut microbiota analysis, using amplification of V3–V4 hypervariable regions of 16sRNA followed by high-throughput sequence. Rectal/stool swabs were sent for K. pneumoniae culture and identification by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). ResultsFifty-five adults with a mean age of 46.9 years (range, 23.1–72.1 years) and 20 children with a mean age of 2.3 years (range, 0.9–5.8) were enrolled, and 29 adults and 6 children had positive K. pneumoniae swabs. Children had lower microbiota diversity than adults, including higher abundance of phylum Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria, and lower Bacteriodetes. For genus comparison, higher abundance of Escherichia, Streptococcus, Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium were found in children, but the composite abundance of Klebsiella in adults (median: 0.0156, range: 0–0.031) and in children (median: 0.0067, range: 0–0.043) were similar. Klebsiella abundance was significantly higher in participants with positive swabs (p < 0.0001). Klebsiella-positive swabs were strongly negatively correlated with Enterobacter spp. (p < 0.0001), but no known demographic factors correlated with Klebsiella-positive swabs. ConclusionKlebsiella species are present in young children, and the abundance is similar in adults and children. Positive swabs correlate strongly with higher abundance in microbiota analysis.

Indoor environment, physiological factors, and diet as predictors of halogenated flame retardant levels in stool and plasma of children from a Canadian cohort

Exposure to halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) has been associated with various adverse effects on human health. Human exposure to HFRs mainly occurs through diet, ingesting contaminated dust, and inhaling contaminated air. Understanding and characterizing the variables linked to these exposure pathways is essential for developing effective risk assessment and mitigation strategies. We investigated indoor environment quality, physiological factors, and diet as potential predictors of HFRs concentration in children's plasma and stool. A selected number of HFRs, including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), Dechlorane-like compounds, and emerging halogenated flame retardants, were measured in children from eastern Quebec (Canada). Information on indoor environment quality, physiological factors, and diet was obtained through self-report questionnaires. Our results show that lower brominated compounds, which are more volatile, were primarily correlated to indoor environment quality. Notably, the use of air purifiers was associated with lower BDE47 and BDE100 levels in blood and newer residential buildings were associated with higher concentrations of BDE47. A significant seasonal variation was found in stool samples, with higher levels of lower brominated PBDEs (BDE47 and BDE100) in samples collected during summer. No association between household income or maternal education degree and HFRs was found. Among emerging compounds, Dec602 and Dec603 were associated with the most variables, including the use of air dehumidifiers, air conditioning, and air purifiers, and the child's age and body fat percentage.

Using zero-inflated and hurdle regression models to analyze schistosomiasis data of school children in the southern areas of Ghana.

Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world, especially in Africa. Detecting the presence of the disease is based on the detection of the parasites in the stool or urine of children and adults. In such studies, typically, data collected on schistosomiasis infection includes information on many negative individuals leading to a high zero inflation. Thus, in practice, counts data with excessive zeros are common. However, the purpose of this analysis is to apply statistical models to the count data and evaluate their performance and results. This is a secondary analysis of previously collected data. As part of a modelling process, a comparison of the Poisson regression, negative binomial regression and their associated zero inflated and hurdle models were used to determine which offered the best fit to the count data. Overall, 94.1% of the study participants did not have any schistosomiasis eggs out of 1345 people tested, resulting in a high zero inflation. The performance of the negative binomial regression models (hurdle negative binomial (HNB), zero inflated negative binomial (ZINB) and the standard negative binomial) were better than the Poisson-based regression models (Poisson, zero inflated Poisson, hurdle Poisson). The best models were the ZINB and HNB and their performances were indistinguishable according to information-based criteria test values. The zero-inflated negative binomial and hurdle negative binomial models were found to be the most satisfactory fit for modelling the over-dispersed zero inflated count data and are recommended for use in future statistical modelling analyses.

Potential Pathogenicity of Escherichia coli Isolated from the Stools of Healthy Children Suffering from Diarrhea Admitted to Hospitals in Southern Benin

Aims: Infant mortality linked to infectious diseases remains a major public health concern, especially in the context of antibiotic resistance. This work aimed to study the potential pathogenicity of Escherichia coli strains isolated from the stools of children suffering from diarrhea and healthy from 0 to 15 years old admitted to hospitals in southern Benin.&#x0D; Methodology: The isolation and characterization of the strains were carried out according to standard microbiology methods. Molecular characterization was carried out by searching for eight virulence factors (Stx1, Stx2, eaeA, bfpB, LT, InVE, IpaH, AggR) and three antibiotic resistance genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX -M) by the PCR technique.&#x0D; Results: This study shows that 47.06% of the children sampled suffered from diarrhea, against 52.94% who were healthy. A total of 9 species of Enterobacteriaceae were identified in different proportions: Escherichia coli (66.66%), Klebsiella ornithinolytica (13.72%), Klebsiella pneumonia (5.88%), Enterobacter aerogenes (3.92%), Escherichia vulneris (1.96%), Salmonella arizonae (1.96%), Salmonella spp (1.96%), Enterobacter sakazakii (1.96%), Serratia fonticola (1.96%). All E. coli showed total resistance to amoxicillin, ceftazidime, and cefotaxime. In addition, they showed variable resistance to norfloxacin (95.33%), trimethoprim (83.33%), and sulfamethoxazole (95.24%). 70.83% of E. coli strains isolated from apparently healthy children carry resistance genes blaTEM (12.5%), blaSHV (25%), and blaCTX-M (33.33%). While 66.67% of strains of E. coli isolated from children with diarrhea carry resistance genes blaTEM (12.5%), blaSHV (37.5%), and blaCTX-M (16.67%). Only EPEC was isolated and only in diarrheal children, with a frequency of 20.83%.&#x0D; Conclusion: The relatively high prevalence of ECD in this study is remarkable, and it highlights the fact that E. coli is an important agent of infectious diarrhea and could be the leading cause of gastroenteritis in Benin.

Correlation Between Nutritional Status, Age, and Gender on the Incidence of Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections

Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections most commonly infect preschool and school-age children. The prevalence of STH infection remains high, i.e., 73 million children are infected in Indonesia. The most commonly infecting worms are roundworms (Ascaris lumbricoides), whipworms (Trichuris trichiura), and hookworms (Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus). STH infection is transmitted through soil contaminated by STH eggs or larvae. Personal hygiene, availability of clean water, and defecation behavior are factors in the development of STH infection. Prolonged infection can cause malnutrition, anemia, and slow growth. This study aims to examine the association between nutritional status, age, and gender on the incidence of STH infection. This research is a descriptive-analytical study with a cross-sectional approach. Fifteen (42.86%) of 35 preschool and school-age children's stool samples were positive for Ascaris lumbricoides eggs. The nutritional status of the children was grouped into underweight, normal, and overweight. The body mass index (BMI) calculation resulted in 65.71% (23/35) underweight, 31.43% (11/35) normal, and 2.86% (1/35) overweight children. The Spearmen test shows that there is no significant correlation between nutritional status (p=0.517), age (p=0.614), and gender (p=0.637) on STH infection.

Effect of zinc supplement on duration of acute watery diarrhea from 6 months to 5 year aged children.

Objective: To determine the effect of Zinc supplement on duration of acute watery diarrhea from 6 months to 5 year aged children. Study Design: Randomized Controlled Trial. Setting: Pediatric Unit, Mardan Medical Complex, Mardan, Pakistan. Period: 1st July 2022 to 31st December 2022. Material &amp; Methods: A total of 100 children aged from 6 months to 5 years presenting with acute watery diarrhea were included in the study. Patients were divided into 2 equal groups. In Group-A patients were given oral Zinc supplement at a dose of 20mg daily while in Group-B children were not given oral zinc supplement. Follow up visit was set on day 3 after start of treatment. Primary outcome was set as frequency of diarrheal episodes during 24 hours while the secondary outcome was character of stool. Results: The Mean±SD of age in this study was 13.51±6.27 months with an age range of 6-30 months. The ratio of male gender was higher than female (59% Vs 41%). Clinical outcomes showed a significant decrease in frequency of diarrheal episodes (3.88±1.11 vs 4.58±1.03, p=0.001) and in number of children with watery stool (42% vs 70%, p=0.05) in Group-A compared to group-B. Number of children recovering from diarrhea was higher in group-A compared to group-B (14% vs 2%, p=0.026). Conclusion: Zinc supplement significantly reduces frequency of diarrheal episodes and improves character of stool in children with acute watery diarrhea aged from 6 months to 5 year.

Prevalence and risk factors associated with the occurrence of Campylobacter sp. in children aged 6-24 months in peri-urban Nairobi, Kenya.

Campylobacter bacteria is a major cause of foodborne-related bacterial gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. It is known to cause diarrhea in young children which has been shown to directly affect their weight and height as a result of malnutrition. Severe cases of diarrhea can also lead to death. Most of the burden is experienced in resource-limited countries in Africa and Southeast Asia where the disease is linked to poor hygiene and sanitation. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Campylobacter in children aged between 6 and 24 months in Nairobi, Kenya and identify potential risk factors associated with their occurrence. A cross-sectional study was carried out between May to December 2021. A total of 585 randomly selected households were visited in two wards (Uthiru/Ruthimitu and Riruta) in Dagoretti South sub-county, Nairobi. A questionnaire regarding how children's food is handled, the major foods consumed, sanitation and hygiene, and animal ownership was conducted among caregivers to identify associated risk factors. Stool samples were collected from 540/585 children and screened for the presence of Campylobacter using culture-based methods and confirmed through PCR. Of the 540 children's stool samples processed, Campylobacter isolates were detected in 4.8% (26/540). Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) was the most common species in 80.8% of positive samples compared to Campylobacter coli (C. coli) in 26.9% of samples. In six samples, both C. jejuni and C. coli were isolated, while in four samples, it was not possible to speciate the Campylobacter. Drinking cow's milk (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.4 - 12.6) and the presence of animal feces in the compound (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.1 - 10.3) were found to be statistically associated with Campylobacter carriage in children. The carriage of Campylobacter in children in this community indicates a need for further investigation on source attribution to understand transmission dynamics and inform where to target interventions. Awareness creation among caregivers on good personal and food hygiene is needed, including boiling milk before consumption. Implementation of biosecurity measures at the household level is highly recommended to reduce contact between animals and humans.

Diagnostic Test of Blood Eosinophil Level as a Marker of Ascaris lumbricoides Infection

A. lumbricoides infection is one from 17 neglected tropical diseases in Indonesia. But, Infection of A. lumbricoides in Indonesia often undiagnosed. This is because stool examination with Kato-Katz’s method still rarely done. So it needs something alternative examination that more practical and can be routinely carried out. This study was a diagnostic test for blood eosinofil levels in diagnosing A. lumbricoides infection. This research was conducted at a hospital in Medan. This study involved 63 children who had their parents approval. Children stool were examined by Kato-Katz method as a gold standard and blood eosinofil levels was examined as an index in this study. The results showed sensitivity level of eosinofil is 25% and specificity 96,08%, positive predictive value 60%, negative predictive value 84%, positive likelihood ratio 6,38% and negative likelihood ratio 0,78%. The conclusion is elevated blood eosinofil levels cannot be used as an alternative test Kato-Katz in diagnosing Infection of A. lumbricoides.