An Outbreak of Diarrhea in Mandera, Kenya, Due to Escherichia coli Serogroup O-Nontypable Strain That Had a Coding Gene for Enteroaggregative E. coli Heat-Stable Enterotoxin 1

Abstract

Abstract. In an outbreak of gastroenteritis in December 2009, in Mandera, Kenya, Escherichia coli O-nontypable (ONT) strain was isolated from stool specimens of patients (18/24, 75%). The E. coli ONT organisms could not be assigned to any of the recognized diarrheagenic groups of E. coli. However, they possessed the enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin-1 gene. The cell-free culture filtrates of the E. coli ONT strain isolated from the outbreak cases induced considerable amount of fluid accumulation in suckling mouse intestine, indicating production of an enterotoxic factor(s). These results identify E. coli that did not have any diarrheagenic characteristics except astA as the etiological agent of the diarrheal outbreak in Mandera. It is however considered necessary to characterize the fluid accumulation factor(s) to determine whether any novel toxins were responsible for the fluid accumulation. Moreover, it is important to study dissemination of strains producing the enterotoxic factor(s) to assess their public health significance distribution in the environment.

Pathotyping and Antibiotic Resistance Profiling of Escherichia coli Isolates from Children with Acute Diarrhea in Amatole District Municipality of Eastern Cape, South Africa

“…Out of all diarrheal pathogens, diarrheagenic E. coli is known as the leading agent of diarrheal diseases. In a previous study carried out by Ochi et al [ 12 ], diarrheagenic E. coli was detected as an etiologic agent in 20% of diarrheal specimens, 34% of which were from children under 5 years old. In a study based on children with diarrhea in Mozambique, the prevalence of diarrheagenic E. coli was 42%, and rotavirus had a prevalence of 18%, while parasites accounted for 38% [ 13 ].…”

Molecular characterization of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes: Association of virulent genes, serogroups, and antibiotic resistance among moderate‐to‐severe diarrhea patients

“…Escherichia coli is enormously versatile bacterium which elaborates its commensal and pathogenic potential in human host. Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) is reported as one of the leading causes of gastrointestinal disorders worldwide and signified as an important issue to address in public health . In low‐ to middle‐income countries, >40% of diarrheal episodes among children are caused by diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes .…”

Characterization of diarrheagenic E. coli causing a diarrheal outbreak in the south of Iran, Summer 2015

“…To our knowledge this is the first report of diarrheagenic E. coli as a causative agent of gastroenteritis outbreak in Iran. However, several outbreaks of gastroenteritis due to diarrheagenic E. coli have been previously reported in Japan, Korea, China, Brazil and the Kenya [17][18][19][20][21][22].…”