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Issue: Vol.2 No.2 - July 2008
Detection of Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli (EPEC) by serotyping and cell adhesion assay among children in north-eastern peninsular Malaysia–a hospital based study
Authors:
J Ashraful Haq
J Ashraful Haq
Affiliations

Department of Microbiology, Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), 122 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Shahbag, Dhaka, Bangladesh

,
Hin Choon Li
Hin Choon Li
Affiliations

Department of Microbiology & Parasitology, University Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia

,
Rosliza Abdur Rahman
Rosliza Abdur Rahman
Affiliations

Department of Microbiology & Parasitology, University Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian 16150, Kelantan, Malaysia

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a major cause of diarrhea in children below 5 years of age in the developing countries. The present study investigated the role of EPEC in childhood diarrhea among the patients attending a university hospital in north-eastern peninsular Malaysia by serotyping and cell adhesion assay using HEp-2 and HeLa cells. A total of 60 stools or rectal swabs from watery diarrhea cases and 16 age matched healthy controls were examined. EPEC were isolated from 14 (23.3%) diarrhea cases and from 1 (9.1%) control by serotyping. Of the 14 EPEC strains, the predominant strain was 0125: K70 (28.5%). Cell adhesion assay detected 26.6% and 30.0% adherent Escherichia coli (E. coli) in diarrhea cases by HEp-2 and HeLa system respectively. Three adherence patterns were noted namely localized, diffuse and aggregative patterns. About 81-88% of isolated E. coli exhibited diffuse adherence pattern by HEp-2 and HeLa cell assay respectively. About 43-44% E. coli exhibiting positive cell adherence phenotype with HEp-2 and HeLa cell assays tested negative with EPEC antisera. The findings indicate that EPEC is an important cause of childhood diarrhea in north-eastern peninsular Malaysia and cell adhesion assay is more sensitive than serotyping for detection of diarrheogenic E. coli.

Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2008; 2(2): 40-43

Key Words: EPEC, diarrhea, serotyping, Malaysia

Address for Correspondence: Dr. J Ashraful Haq, Professor of Microbiology, Ibrahim Medical College & Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation, for Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders (BIRDEM), Shahbagh, Dhaka-1000, e-mail: [email protected]