title: Association of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) with prolonged diarrhoea.
abstract: The aim of the present case control study was to investigate the prevalence of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and its possible role in causing diarrhoea among children < 5 years of age in Norway. Stool specimens received in the laboratory from children with suspected gastroenteritis (n = 251) were, in addition to routine testing, analysed for the presence of EPEC by PCR of the eae, bfpA and stx genes. Specimens from healthy children (n = 210) recruited from Maternal and Child Health Centres were analysed for EPEC only. EPEC isolates (eae+, stx-) were classified as typical (bfpA+) or atypical (bfpA-), and were tested for O : K serogroup. Information on duration of diarrhoea was recorded in a questionnaire and from referral forms. Atypical EPEC was diagnosed in 37 patients (14.7 %) compared to 21 (10.0 %) of the healthy controls [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.4, P = 0.3]. Only three isolates, all from patients, belonged to EPEC serogroups. One patient had typical EPEC. Twenty (22.5 %) of 89 patients with diarrhoea lasting > or = 14 days had atypical EPEC. The association between atypical EPEC and prolonged diarrhoea (OR = 2.1, P = 0.04) was caused by a high prevalence among female patients (40.6 %). In conclusion, atypical EPEC was found to be slightly more prevalent in patients than controls, without any overall significant association with diarrhoea. However, a significant association was observed with diarrhoea lasting 14 days or more, a finding that may indicate a role for atypical EPEC in prolonged disease.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, St. Olavs Hospital, University Hospital and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health1 and Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine,2 Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Jan E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Afset
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, St. Olavs Hospital, University Hospital and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health1 and Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine,2 Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bevanger
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, St. Olavs Hospital, University Hospital and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health1 and Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine,2 Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Pål
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romundstad
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Medical Microbiology, St. Olavs Hospital, University Hospital and Department of Laboratory Medicine, Children's and Women's Health1 and Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine,2 Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
authors.forename: Kåre
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bergh
mesh_terms: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009664:Norway; D019081:O Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D012703:Serotyping; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000954:Antigens, Surface; C104901:BfpA protein, E coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C030659:K antigens; D019081:O Antigens; D022603:Shiga Toxins; C073819:eaeA protein, E coli; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins