Mannose-resistant haemagglutination (MRHA) and haemolysin (Hly) production of strains of Escherichia coli isolated from children with diarrhoea: effect of breastfeeding.
Haemolysin production (Hly) and mannose-resistant haemagglutination induction (MRHA) of human (H), bovine (B), and both (HB) erythrocytes was investigated in strains of E. coli isolated from 142 cases of children with diarrhoea aged 0-36 months. Haemolysin production was more frequent in strains isolated from children under 1 year and this characteristic was strongly associated with HB+ haemagglutination (P < 0.005). Isolation frequency of MRHA strains was compared in 53 breastfed and 50 non-breastfed children under 1 year of age. HB+ strains were significantly more frequent in non-breastfed infants (P < 0.025). Severity of diarrhoea evaluated by the number of watery stools per day, was significantly reduced in the breastfed group (P < 0.05). The results suggests that breastfeeding may protect infants against the establishment of HB+ strains which might be acting either as a main pathogen or as an opportunistic strain.
Giugliano
L G
LG
Department of Cellular Biology, University of Brasilia.
Meyer
C J
CJ
Arantes
L C
LC
Ribeiro
S T
ST
Giugliano
R
R
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008358:Mannose / Q000494:pharmacology; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000276:immunology
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C022924:colonization factor antigens; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins; D008358:Mannose