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Molecular Identification of Gastroenteritis Pathogens among Adults and Children in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia: A
Ahmed K Alqurayn1, Hisham M Yousef2, Hameed H Al Jawad2
1Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Infectious gastroenteritis is one of the most prevalent diseases worldwide. Multiplex molecular assays enable simultaneous and rapid detection of various gastrointestinal pathogens, but it has not been used to report the prevalence of such infections from Saudi Arabia.
Objectives:
To determine the viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens implicated in infectious diarrhea among children and adults and describe their seasonality in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Materials And Methods:
This is a retrospective study that included all documented results of syndromic PCR-based gastrointestinal pathogen panels between November 1, 2021, and March 31, 2023, from a private, tertiary healthcare hospital in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Patients' demographics, detected pathogens, recorded temperature, and date of testing were retrieved from the hospital's electronic medical records.
Results:
A total of 606 non-duplicate samples were included. Viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens were detected in 24.8%, 50.5%, and 3.8% of samples, respectively. Of the total tested samples, norovirus (13.2%), and sapovirus (4.5%) were the two most commonly detected viruses. Enteropathogenic E. coli (21.6%) and enteroaggregative E. coli (9.7%) were the most commonly identified bacterial targets. The only parasitic pathogen detected was Crytposporidium spp. (3.8%). Children aged ≤5 years tested positive for most pathogens, while elderly patients were mainly positive for diarrheagenic E. coli, C. difficile, norovirus, and sapovirus. Most pathogens peaked during summer, while norovirus, Campylobacter spp., and Cryptosporidium spp. were predominantly seen in winter or spring. Bacterial pathogens were commonly co-detected with gastroenteritis viruses.
Conclusion:
We describe variable distributions of viral, bacterial, and parasitic causes of diarrhea across age groups and seasons in Saudi Arabia. Viral and bacterial pathogens (specifically, norovirus and diarrheagenic E. coli) are the predominant pathogens in infectious gastroenteritis.
Insights
This study identified the prevalence and seasonality of infectious gastroenteritis pathogens in Saudi Arabia. Norovirus and diarrheagenic E. coli were the most common causes, with varied distributions across age groups and seasons.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- Infectious gastroenteritis is a significant global health concern.
- Multiplex molecular assays offer rapid, simultaneous detection of gastrointestinal pathogens.
- Prevalence data for infectious gastroenteritis in Saudi Arabia remain limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens causing infectious diarrhea.
- To describe the seasonality of these pathogens in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
- To analyze pathogen distribution across different age groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of syndromic PCR-based gastrointestinal pathogen panel results.
- Inclusion of 606 non-duplicate samples from November 2021 to March 2023.
- Data retrieval from electronic medical records, including patient demographics and pathogen detection.
Main Results:
- Viral, bacterial, and parasitic pathogens were detected in 24.8%, 50.5%, and 3.8% of samples, respectively.
- Norovirus (13.2%) and Enteropathogenic E. coli (21.6%) were the most frequently identified pathogens.
- Pathogen prevalence varied by age, with children ≤5 years affected most; seasonality showed summer peaks for most pathogens, but winter/spring for norovirus, Campylobacter, and Cryptosporidium.
Conclusions:
- This study provides insights into the diverse etiologies of infectious diarrhea in Saudi Arabia.
- Norovirus and diarrheagenic E. coli are identified as the predominant pathogens.
- Significant variations in pathogen distribution exist across age groups and seasons.
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