Molecular Study to Detection Diarrheagenic E. Coli in Infant Children

Abstract

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli are a major cause of diarrhea diseases in both developing and developed countries. Furthermore, in developing countries, Diarrheagenic E. coli are responsible for a high morbidity of diarrheal cases and mortality in children under 5 years of age. A total of 177 diarrheal samples were collected from children under five years Range from 5 days to 2 years suffering with Acute watery diarrhea who attended to Al–Kut Hospital for Gyneclogy and obstetrics and pediatrics during the period from 15 October 2021 to 15 April 2022. All isolates were identified according to their morphological characteristics, biochemical tests and confirmed by VITEK 2 system. Results were showed that 85 /177 (48.02%) isolates were identified as Escherichia coli, while 54(30.5 %) isolates belong to other bacteria, by PCR Diarrheagenic E. coli were detected in 41.1 % (35 /85). The distribution of 35 DEC pathotype isolates were: EPEC was found in 40% (14/35), EAEC in 37.14% (13/35), ETEC in 11.42% (4/35), EIEC in 11.42% (4/35) and 0% (0/35) in STEC. The Distribution of the Diarrheagenic E. coli strains was in males 13 (37%) and females 22 (62%), the rate of infection in females was greater than males, statistically this difference was significant(P<0.05), while the ages groups were distributed as 5D-12M (65%) and (34%) at 13-24 month. The Diarrheagenic E. coli was present in formula-fed infants in a significant percentage 19/35 (54.2%). (It is the highest percentage) and in infants dependent on natural feeding (breast-fed), the percentage showed the lowest where it was 5/35(14.2%).