[Enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis as a factor in diarrhea]

Abstract

The etiology of almost half of the diarrheal diseases has not been cleared yet, in spite of modern diagnostic methods. Bacteroides fragilis strains which secrete an enterotoxin are termed as enterotoxigenic B.fragilis (ETBF). These strains are associated with diarrheal diseases in children above 1 year of age and in adults. B. fragilis toxin (BFT) stimulates intestinal secretion and in-vitro cytotoxic response in HT29/C1 cells. Recent studies suggest that BFT is related to inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer by triggering nuclear activation with potential oncogene expression. In this review, the molecular pathogenesis, epidemiology and laboratory diagnosis of ETBF have been reviewed to focus on ETBF as a diarrheal agent.