ABSTRACT
To determine the etiology of acute diarrhea in Palestinian children under 5 years of age and to improve knowledge of the etiology of gastrointestinal pathogens using traditional and molecular diagnostic techniques. Various common enteropathogens [viral, bacterial and parasites] associated with diarrhea were investigated by conventional and molecular techniques [PCR] in 150 children less than 5 years of age admitted to the Central Pediatric Hospital, Gaza Strip, Palestine. The occurrence of enteropathogens identified was as follows: rotavirus 42/150 [28%], Entamoeba histolytica/dispar 23/150 [15%], Shigella spp. 9/150 [6%], Campylobacter coli/jejuni and Escherichia coli O157:H7 7/150 [5%] each, Salmonella spp. 3/150 [2%], Giardia intestinalis 1/150 [1%], and Strongyloides stercoralis 1/150 [1%] of the samples. Shigella and Salmonella isolates were tested for their susceptibility to common antimicrobial agents and most of the isolates were resistant to ampicillin and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. This study demonstrated that rotavirus, E. coli O157:H7 and Campylobacter, which are not routinely screened for in Gaza Strip, were significant enteropathogens. The results highlight the value of using a combination of traditional and PCR techniques in the diagnosis of enteropathogens related to gastroenteritis