title: Prevalence of enteroaggregative and other HEp-2 cell adherent Escherichia coli in asymptomatic rural south Indians by longitudinal sampling.
abstract: Enteroaggregative and other HEp-2 cell adherent Escherichia coli can produce acute and persistent diarrhoea in children and adults, but their prevalence in asymptomatic individuals in the community is not known. In this study, faecal specimens were obtained at 3-4 monthly intervals from 349 subjects constituting a 20% age-stratified sample of a rural community for a period of two years. HEp-2 cell adherent E. coli were found in 210 subjects, and repeat isolations of enteroaggregative E. coli belonging to the same serogroup were found in 12.6% of children less than 12 years of age, indicating that this organism can asymptomatically colonise the intestinal tract. These children may act as a reservoir of infection for the community.
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Trust Research Laboratory, Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College and Hospital, Vellore, India.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheela
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Mathan
authors.forename: V I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Mathan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D002460:Cell Line; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012494:Sampling Studies