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High Burden of Co-Infection with Multiple Enteric Pathogens in Children Suffering with Diarrhoea from Rural and

Natasha Potgieter1, Lee Heine2, Jean Pierre Kabue Ngandu1

  • 1One Health Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Agriculture and Engineering, University of Venda, Thohoyandou 0950, Limpopo Province, South Africa.

Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 25, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Diarrhoeal disease in South African children often involves multiple pathogens. This study found 82% of cases had enteric pathogens, with many infections involving combinations of viruses, bacteria, and parasites, impacting treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Public Health
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Infectious diarrhoea is a major cause of illness and death in young children in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Understanding pathogen prevalence and combinations is crucial for effective treatment and prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of single and multiple diarrhoeal-causing pathogen combinations in children in South Africa.
  • To identify common bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens associated with infectious diarrhoea.

Main Methods:

  • Stool specimens from 275 children with diarrhoea were collected between 2014 and 2016.
  • The BioFire FilmArray Gastrointestinal panel was used for simultaneous detection of 22 diarrhoea pathogens.
  • Data analysis focused on identifying single and multiple pathogen infections.

Main Results:

  • Enteric pathogens were detected in 82% of specimens.
  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (EAEC) and Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) were the most common bacteria; Adenovirus F40/41 and Norovirus were the most common viruses; Giardia and Cryptosporidium were the most common parasites.
  • Multiple pathogen co-infections were prevalent, occurring in 59% of cases, with many involving two or more pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • Diarrhoeal episodes in children are frequently caused by combinations of enteric pathogens.
  • The complex nature of co-infections may influence treatment effectiveness and warrants further investigation.

Keywords:
South Africadiarrhoeainfectiouspaediatric patientspathogensstool specimens

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