Carriage prevalence and distribution of virulence genes of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli isolated from healthy children under 5 years of age in community

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli (DEC) is getting more and more important as a cause of diarrhea in children under 5 years of age. Detection of DEC prevalence and distribution of their virulent genes plays an important role in prevention and treatment for E.coli-related diseases and vaccine development. Objectives: This study was conducted with the aim to detect DEC prevalence and the distribution of virulent genes of DEC isolated from healthy children under 5 who were living in the community. Subjects and method: 826 children under-5 living in Ba Vi District, Ha Tay Province were selected. Polymerase chain reactions using specific primers to virulent genes of DEC were used. Results. The study found that the prevalence of DEC was 9.8%, among this EAEC accounted for 3.1%, EHEC 1.8%, EIEC 0.1%, EPEC 1.1%, ETEC 0.1% and two DECs 3.5%. Combinations of virulent genes of EHEC and EHEC+ETEC accounted for 50% of total virulent genes. Conclusion: Five types of DEC were isolated from subjects with the prevalence of 9.8%. The most common virulent genes were combinations of EHEC and ETEC. Further studies are needed to investigate the transmission pathway of DEC in children living in the community.