High prevalence of enteroinvasive Escherichia Coli isolated in a region of northern coastal Ecuador

摘要

Although Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) is a clinically important pathogen, few clinical and community studies have specifically looked for EIEC, compared to Shigellae or other diarrhea causing E. coli. Due to the lack of scientific attention in studies of diarrheal disease, the epidemiology of EIEC is poorly understood, and the degree to which EIEC is being mis-diagnosised as Shigellae is unknown. Methods: E. coli and Shigellae were identified in a case-control study in northern coastal Ecuador. Infection was assessed by PCR specific for LT and STa genes of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), the bfp gene of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and the ipaH gene of both enteroinvasive E. coli and Shigellae. Distinction between EIEC and Shigellae was achieved with biochemical tests.