Epidemiology of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli diarrhea in a pediatric cohort in a periurban area of lower Egypt

J Infect Dis. 1999 Feb;179(2):382-9. doi: 10.1086/314593.

Abstract

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are diverse pathogens that express heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (ST) enterotoxins, yet little is known about whether epidemiologic patterns of pediatric ETEC diarrhea vary by the expressed ETEC toxin phenotype. In total, 242 Egyptian children aged <3 years were prospectively followed in 1993-1995. ETEC episodes were detected during twice-weekly home visits, and asymptomatic ETEC excretion was identified from monthly cross-sectional surveys. ETEC episodes were 0.6 per child-year. ST-only ETEC was 2.6 times (P<.001) more common in warmer than cooler months, while LT-only ETEC showed no seasonal variation. Ownership of a household sanitary latrine, but not breast-feeding, was associated with a lower risk of both enterotoxin phenotypes. Coexpression of a colonization factor by LT- or ST-only ETEC strengthened the association with diarrhea. These findings indicate that the epidemiologic patterns of LT-only and ST-only ETEC are not identical and that disease interventions should include improved household sanitation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cohort Studies
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / epidemiology*
  • Diarrhea, Infantile / microbiology
  • Egypt / epidemiology
  • Escherichia coli / pathogenicity*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Prospective Studies
  • Urban Population
  • Virulence