Prevalence of enteropathogens in normal feces from healthy children at an infant day care in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: The diarrhea associated with gastroenteritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, affecting mainly infants. The characterization of both viral and bacterial agents associated with gastroenteritis can establish policies for surveillance, prevention and treatment of infections. Group A rotaviruses are the major infectious agent associated with dehydration in children, followed by pathotypes of Escherichia coli. There are three main types of clinical infections caused by E. coli strains that have acquired virulence genes: (i) enteric and diarrheal diseases, (ii) urinary tract infections, and (iii) sepsis and meningitis. Methodology: In this study, the objective was to identify the presence of rotavirus and diarrhogenic E. coli in the feces of children 4 to 14 months of age who displayed no gastroenteritis symptoms and stayed all day in a day-care center. We analyzed 188 samples using PAGE and PCR to identify rotaviruses and E. coli virulence genes, respectively. Results: Thirty-six samples (19.1%) were positive for at least one pathotype of E. coli. Nineteen were identified to be of the EPEC group and fifteen of the EAEC group. Rotaviruses were not identified. Conclusions: As EPEC and EAEC are potential pathogens for children less than one year of age or immunocompromised individuals, our results show the importance of appropriate monitoring by public health agencies. In the situation that we have studied, children can be considered asymptomatic carriers of these pathogens and can transmit them to other susceptible children.

Application of Luminex Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel to human stool samples from Côte d’Ivoire

“…Huynen et al (2013) reported a similar prevalence of norovirus in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients in Burkina Faso [22]. Enteric infections among apparently asymptomatic individuals represent a serious issue in endemic areas [23][24][25]. This unrecognized source of infections and the low level of hygiene and sanitation constitute a hazardous combination, which contributes to the endemic transmission of EE [7].…”

Application of multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for simultaneous quantification of Escherichia coli virulence genes in oysters

“…Escherichia coli is a bacterium that is part of the gut microbiota of humans and animals, but some pathogenic strains can cause intestinal infections (diarrheagenic E. coli [DEC]) or extra-intestinal infections, such as meningitis and urinary infections (extraintestinal pathogenic E.coli [ExPEC]) (Croxen et al 2013;De Moura et al 2012;Nataro and Kaper 1998). The difference between indigenous and pathogenic strains is the presence of virulence factors in the latter.…”

Presence of Shiga toxin 2e‐producing Escherichia coli and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli in an asymptomatic child

“…Despite the epidemiological significance of EPEC and STEC as human pathogens, some individuals infected with these pathotypes show no apparent clinical signs of infection (De Moura et al ., 2012; Nunes et al, 2012). The presence of such pathogens in asymptomatic carriers is a public health concern because they act as reservoirs transmitting the disease throughout the community; however, little information is available about such cases.…”