HEp-2 cell-adherent Escherichia coli in patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated diarrhea.
Diarrhea occurs commonly in African human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. A case-control (HIV-positive vs. -negative) study of adults with diarrhea was done in Lusaka, Zambia, to determine the prevalence of intestinal infection by HEp-2 cell-adherent Escherichia coli. Adherent E. coli were more common in HIV-positive patients with acute diarrhea than among HIV-negative controls (60% vs. 33%) and were found significantly more often in HIV-positive patients with chronic diarrhea than among HIV-negative controls with chronic diarrhea (79% vs. 17%, P < .002). Adherent strains were found significantly more often among HIV-positive patients (69%) than in 22 asymptomatic subjects (36%, P < .02). The HEp-2 cell adherence of the E. coli strains did not show a common pattern. Adherent bacteria were also observed in colonic biopsies from 32% of Zambians with chronic diarrhea who underwent endoscopy. Adherent E. coli may be an important cause of HIV-associated diarrhea in Zambia.
Mathewson
J J
JJ
Center for Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical School/School of Public Health, Houston 77030, USA.
Jiang
Z D
ZD
Zumla
A
A
Chintu
C
C
Luo
N
N
Calamari
S R
SR
Genta
R M
RM
Steephen
A
A
Schwartz
P
P
DuPont
H L
HL
D000208:Acute Disease; D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002460:Cell Line; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D018830:Adhesins, Escherichia coli