title: Isolation and Characterization of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) in Paediatric Diarrhoeal Patients by Detection of bfpA gene by PCR and HeLa cell Adherence Assay.
abstract: This study has been undertaken to investigate the isolation and identification of EPEC strains from paediatric diarrhoeal patients. The study was carried out in the department of Microbiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College & Mitford Hospital, Bangladesh during January to December, 2011. Total 272 samples were studied. Samples from patients with diarrhoea were collected from two tertiary care hospital. At first Esch. coli were isolated from these specimens using standard microbiological techniques and then EPEC strains were identified on the basis of presence of bundle forming pilus (bfpA) gene. Virulence of EPEC strains were determined by detection of bfpA gene and observing localized adherence (LA) in HeLa cell adherence assay. Esch. coli was isolated and identified from all the 272 samples from patients using standard microbiological techniques. Among 272 samples 20(7.35%) isolates were identified as EPEC on the basis of presence of bfpA gene detected by polymerase chain reaction. EPEC strains were identified from those 240 samples, from which Esch. coli had been isolated only. Out of twenty EPEC strains, 17 strains (85%) showed a pattern of localized adherence in Hela cell adherence assay. EPEC strains can be identified by bfpA gene detection and by adherence assays. HeLa cell adherence assay is the most specific method for detection of EPEC strains which has bfpA gene, responsible for localized adherence (LA) in HeLa cell line. Rapid and reliable detection of EPEC is required for successful microbiological surveillance and for treatment of EPEC mediated diarrhoeal disease.
authors.affiliation: Dr Shimu Saha, Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology, Dhaka Community Medical College, Bara Maghbazar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Jhora
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Talukder
authors.forename: I J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Azmi
mesh_terms: D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology; D054308:Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: C104901:BfpA protein, E coli; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins