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. 2024 Nov;132(11):797-806.
doi: 10.1111/apm.13478. Epub 2024 Oct 6.

Prevalence and characteristics of 11 potentially diarrhoeagenic microbes in asymptomatic individuals in Norway, 2015-2020

Einar Tollaksen Weme  1 , Lin Thorstensen Brandal  2 , Pål Arne Jenum  1   3 , Astrid Louise Wester  4 , Fredrik Müller  3
Affiliations

Prevalence and characteristics of 11 potentially diarrhoeagenic microbes in asymptomatic individuals in Norway, 2015-2020

Einar Tollaksen Weme et al. APMIS. 2024 Nov.

Abstract

We aimed to estimate the prevalence of potentially diarrhoeagenic microbes (PDMs) in faecal samples from asymptomatic individuals in a high-income country, identify risk factors for carriage and to identify microbial factors that differ between PDMs in asymptomatic versus symptomatic individuals. Samples from 1000 asymptomatic participants were collected, together with a questionnaire, between 2015 and 2020 and examined by PCR for 11 PDMs. Isolates were characterised and potential risk factors were registered. Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC), Yersinia enterocolitica, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) and Campylobacter spp. were found in 163 (16%), 20 (2.0%), 17 (1.7%), 12 (1.2%) and 11 (1.1%) asymptomatic individuals, respectively. Other PDMs were rare. Only low virulent STEC, with stx1c, stx2b or stx2f, was detected. Travels outside Europe was a significant risk factor for detecting Campylobacter spp. (odds ratio (OR) 6.99; 95% CI 1.12-43.6) and ETEC (OR 11.4; 95% CI 1.26-102). Individuals ≥65 years of age had lower odds of carrying STEC (OR 0.11; 95% CI 0.02-0.57) or EPEC (OR 0.09; 95% CI 0.05-0.16) than individuals ≤5 years of age. The common finding of PDMs in asymptomatic individuals could have implications for the interpretation of positive findings in clinical samples and infection control measures.

Keywords: Asymptomatic; carriage; diarrhoeagenic; gastrointestinal pathogens; syndromic testing.

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References

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