ABSTRACT
Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli [EAEC] strains have been implicated as causative agents of acute, chronic and persistent diarrhea in children. EAEC have special aggregative adherence pattern for HEp-2 or HeLa cells. PCR methods based on the presence of essential virulence factors would facilitate the diagnosis of EAEC strains. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of the PCR assay targeting the pCVD432 gene for the detection of EAEC strains and the presence of aggR, agg, aafA, aap and astA genes which can be used for the differentiation of typical and atypical EAEC strains. One hundred and forty faecal samples were collected from children of less than 12 years of age with diarrhea at the Besat Hospital, in Hamadan, between July 2007 and May 2008. The faecal samples were plated onto MacConkey agar and incubated at 37 oC for 18 hours. E.coli colonies were identified by biochemical tests. EAEC strains were identified by ues of pCVD432 primer which is specific for EAEC strains. Then their virulence factors were evaluated by use of specific primers of aggR, aggA, aafA, aap and astA genes. Strains of E. coli harboring the pCVD432 gene were found in the faecal samples from 15 [10.8%] patients. The aggR gene was present in 11[73.3] strains. The aggA gene was found in 3 isolates and 4 strains had the aafA gene. The aap and astA genes were found in 9 and 7 strains, respectively. Several different combinations of the genetic markers were found among the EAEC strains. The most prevalent combinations were aggR/aap, found in 8 [53.3%] and aggR/aafA detected in 4[26.7%] strains. The results of this study showed that EAEC strains were one of the most prevalent enteric pathogens in children in this region. The pCVD432 gene PCR assay is the most common method for detection of EAEC strains. Typical EAEC strains with aggR gene had a high prevalence in this region and considering the pattern of virulence factors, they were heterogenous