مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - The Investigation of Pathogenic E. coli serogroups in Patients with Diarrhea

Abstract :

Objective: Diarrheal diseases express a major health problem especially in developing countries. The real reasons of diarrheal disease are largely due to low hygiene or sanitation as well as low budgets of primary and secondary health care. In this study, it was aimed to determine the presence of bacterial enteropathogens especially diarrheagenic Escherichia coli serogroups in stool samples taken from patients with diarrhea in our geographic region.Methods: 343 stool samples were collected from the patients who were diarrhea. Stool samples were subjected to macroscopic and microscopic examinations, and then were cultured into EMB Agar, MacConkey Agar and Selenite F to isolate and distinguish E.coli from other intestinal pathogens. Finally, all isolated E.coli species were identified by using specific antisera.Results: 343 (156 female, 187 male) stool samples were bacteriologically and parasitologically examined. Only E. coli presence was detected in 262 (76.4%) samples. 77 (29.4%) of total isolated 262 E.coli strains were identified with latex agglutination test. Most common EHEC, EPEC, ETEC and EIEC strains were detected as following; O26, O55, O128 and O152 respectively. E.coli O157:H7 serovar was not detected.Conclusion: As a consequent, just usage of O antisera (except H7) is not adequate to detect all the pathogenic bacteria. However, determination of bacterial serogroups which often seen in a region may lead to draw the attention of the clinicians on these bacteria and provide an opportunity for more accurate diagnosis and treatment. The main way to prevent diarrheal E. coli infections is to obey the hygiene rules.