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Prevalence of Providencia strains among children with diarrhea in Japan

Ayaka Shima1, Atsushi Hinenoya, Masahiro Asakura

  • 1Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Osaka Prefecture University, Osaka, Japan.

Japanese Journal of Infectious Diseases
|November 28, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study investigated Providencia spp. in Japanese children with diarrhea, finding a low prevalence of 1.4%. The research utilized a specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to identify these bacterial strains.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Providencia species are known to cause diarrhea, particularly in travelers.
  • Data on the prevalence of Providencia spp. in pediatric populations in Japan is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of Providencia species in children suffering from diarrhea in Japan.
  • To develop and validate a genus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for detecting Providencia species.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a genus-specific PCR assay targeting the 16S rRNA gene of Providencia.
  • Validation of the PCR method's specificity (100%) and sensitivity against various bacterial strains.
  • Screening of 345 stool samples from children with diarrhea in Japan using the developed PCR method.

Main Results:

  • The developed PCR method demonstrated 100% specificity and sensitivity.
  • Providencia species were detected in 5 out of 345 (1.4%) stool samples.
  • Providencia rettgeri was the sole species identified, isolated from 4 samples.

Conclusions:

  • The prevalence of Providencia species in children with diarrhea in Japan is low.
  • The findings suggest a lower occurrence compared to previously reported data for Japanese travelers with diarrhea.
  • The study established a reliable PCR method for detecting Providencia species in clinical samples.

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