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. 2017 Dec 18;17(1):773.
doi: 10.1186/s12879-017-2872-0.

High prevalence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli carrying toxin-encoding genes isolated from children and adults in southeastern Brazil

Liliana Cruz Spano  1 , Keyla Fonseca da Cunha  2 , Mariane Vedovatti Monfardini  3 , Rita de Cássia Bergamaschi Fonseca  4 , Isabel Christina Affonso Scaletsky  3
Affiliations

High prevalence of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli carrying toxin-encoding genes isolated from children and adults in southeastern Brazil

Liliana Cruz Spano et al. BMC Infect Dis. .

Abstract

Background: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are important bacterial causes of childhood diarrhea in Brazil, but its impact in adults is unknown. This study aimed at investigating DEC among children and adults living in endemic areas.

Methods: A total of 327 stools specimens were collected from children (n = 141) and adults (n = 186) with diarrhea attending health centers. Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) were identified by their virulence genes (multiplex polymerase chain reaction) and HEp-2 cell adherence patterns.

Results: DEC were detected in 56 (40%) children and 74 (39%) adults; enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) (23%) was the most prevalent pathotype, followed by diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) (13%), and occurred at similar frequencies in both diarrheal groups. Atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) strains were recovered more frequently from children (6%) than from adults (1%). Twenty-six percent of the EAEC were classified as typical EAEC possessing aggR gene, and carried the aap gene. EAEC strains carrying aggR-aap-aatA genes were significantly more frequent among children than adults (p < 0.05). DAEC strains possessing Afa/Dr. genes were detected from children (10%) and adults (6%). EAEC and DAEC strains harboring genes for the EAST1 (astA), Pet, Pic, and Sat toxins were common in both diarrheal groups. The astA and the porcine AE/associated adhesin (paa) genes were found in most of aEPEC strains. High levels of resistance to antimicrobial drugs were found among DAEC and aEPEC isolates.

Conclusion: The results show a high proportion of EAEC and DAEC carrying toxin-encoding genes among adults with diarrhea.

Keywords: Adults; Children; Diarrheagenic E. coli.

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Conflict of interest statement

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Brazil. Stool samples were obtained with the written informed consent from the adults and from the parents or guardians of the children.

Consent to publication

Not applicable.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Plasmid contents of aEPEC strains isolated from children (lanes 1–8) and adults (lans 9–10). MW, R861, E. coli strain carrying plasmids of known molecular sizes
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Plasmid contents of DAEC strains isolated from children (lanes 1–5) and adults (lans 6–10). MW, R861, E. coli strain carrying plasmids of known molecular sizes
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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