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Molecular Prevalence of Diarrheal Pathogens in Children with Acute Diarrhea in Southeastern Gabon
Nal Kennedy Ndjangangoye1,2,3, Sonia Etenna Lekana-Douki2, Sandrine Lydie Oyegue-Liabagui1,3,4
1Unité d'Evolution, Epidémiologie et Résistances Parasitaires, Centre Interdisciplinaire de Recherches Médicales de Franceville, Franceville, Gabon.
Insights
Diarrheal diseases are common in Gabonese children. This study found multiple pathogens, including diarrheagenic Escherichia coli and adenovirus, in 75.7% of children with diarrhea, highlighting the need for further research.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Diarrheal diseases represent a significant global health challenge, particularly impacting infant and young child populations in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Limited data exists on the specific prevalence of diarrheal pathogens among children in Gabon, hindering targeted public health interventions.
- Understanding the etiological agents of childhood diarrhea in Gabon is crucial for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of various diarrheal pathogens in children presenting with acute diarrhea in southeastern Gabon.
- To identify the most common infectious agents responsible for diarrheal diseases in this pediatric population.
- To provide baseline data on diarrheal pathogen distribution to inform future public health initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 284 stool samples from Gabonese children aged 0-15 years with acute diarrhea.
- Utilized polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect 17 distinct diarrheal pathogens.
- Quantified pathogen detection rates and identified coinfection patterns.
Main Results:
- A high detection rate of at least one pathogen was observed in 75.7% (n=215) of the analyzed samples.
- Coinfection with multiple pathogens was prevalent, occurring in 44.7% (n=127) of the children studied.
- Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (30.6%) and adenovirus (26.4%) were the most frequently identified pathogens, followed by rotavirus and Shigella sp.
Conclusions:
- The study identified a wide range of bacterial, viral, and protozoan pathogens contributing to childhood diarrhea in southeastern Gabon.
- The high prevalence of coinfections suggests complex interactions influencing disease severity and presentation.
- Further research, including studies with healthy control groups, is recommended to ascertain the specific disease burden attributable to each pathogen.
Abstract:
Diarrheal diseases are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in infants and young children, particularly in sub-Saharan countries. In Gabon, there are few data on the prevalence of diarrheal pathogens in children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of diarrheal pathogens in children with diarrhea in southeastern Gabon. Stool samples (n = 284) from Gabonese children 0 to 15 years of age with acute diarrhea were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction targeting 17 diarrheal pathogens. At least one pathogen was detected in 75.7% of samples (n = 215). Coinfection with multiple pathogens was observed in 44.7% of patients (n = 127). Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli was the most commonly detected pathogen (30.6%, n = 87), followed by adenovirus (26.4%, n = 75), rotavirus (16.9%, n = 48), Shigella sp. (16.5%, n = 47), Giardia duodenalis (14.4%, n = 41), norovirus GII (7.0%, n = 20), sapovirus (5.6%, n = 16), Salmonella enterica (4.9%, n = 14), astrovirus (4.6%, n = 13), Campylobacter jejuni/coli (4.6%, n = 13), bocavirus (2.8%, n = 8), and norovirus GI (2.8%, n = 8). Our study provides useful information on the possible causes of diarrheal diseases affecting children in southeastern Gabon. A similar study with a control group of healthy children is needed to assess the burden of the disease attributed to each pathogen.
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