Prevalence of diarrheogenic Escherichia coli and rotavirus among children from Botucatu, São Paulo State, Brazil

Author(s)

J. Rodrigues ^[1] ; V.C. Acosta ^[2] ; J.M.G. Candeias ^[3] ; L.O. Souza ^[4] ; F.J.C. Filho ^[5]

Affiliation

^[1] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia

^[2] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia

^[3] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia

^[4] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Instituto de Biociências. Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia

^[5] Universidade Estadual Paulista. Centro de Saúde Escola - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Medical and Biological Research; v. 35, n. 11, p. 1311-1318, 2002-11-00.

Abstract

In a one-year prospective study carried out to define the role of rotavirus and Escherichia coli in local childhood diarrhea, we determined the prevalence of both agents in 54 diarrheic children attending a health center in Botucatu. Diarrheogenic E. coli (DEC) strains were characterized by O:H serotyping, a search for virulence genetic markers, and assays of adherence to HEp-2 cells. Except for enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), no other DEC category was detected in the children's stools. Both EAEC and rotavirus were isolated from 22 of the 54 (41.0%) diarrheic children as single agents or in combination with other enteropathogens. However, when considering the presence of a single agent, EAEC was dominant and isolated from 20.4% of the patients, whereas rotavirus was detected in 14.8%. These results indicate that rotavirus and EAEC play a significant role as agents of childhood diarrhea in the local population. (AU)