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[Enterotoxigenicity of opportunistic enterobacteria in acute intestinal diseases in children]
Insights
Opportunistic enterobacteria cause intestinal diseases in infants. Enterotoxigenic strains were found in 69% of sick infants but only 3% of healthy infants, indicating their pathogenic role.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Opportunistic enterobacteria are frequently isolated from infants.
- Acute intestinal diseases in infants are a significant health concern.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the enterotoxigenicity of opportunistic enterobacteria in infants.
- To compare the prevalence of enterotoxigenic strains in sick versus healthy infants.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and identification of enterobacteria from fecal samples.
- Detection of enterotoxigenicity in bacterial cultures.
- Comparison of prevalence between diseased and healthy infant groups.
Main Results:
- Enterotoxigenic opportunistic enterobacteria were isolated from 68.99% of sick infants.
- Enterotoxigenic strains were found in only 3.33% of healthy infants.
- Enterotoxigenicity was observed in E. coli and other Enterobacteriaceae members (C. freundii, Arizona, K. pneumoniae, H. alvei, Pr. vulgaris, Pr. morganii, Pr. rettgeri, Y. enterocolitica).
Conclusions:
- Opportunistic enterobacteria, particularly enterotoxigenic strains, play a significant role in acute intestinal diseases in infants.
- The high prevalence of enterotoxigenic strains in sick infants suggests their etiological importance.
- Further research into specific enterotoxigenic mechanisms and therapeutic strategies is warranted.
Abstract:
The enterotoxigenicity of 244 cultures of opportunistic enterobacteria isolated from 129 infants (up to 1 year old) with acute intestinal diseases and of 120 cultures of opportunistic enterobacteria isolated from 60 practically healthy children of the same age, having no record of intestinal disorders in their medical history, was studied. The study revealed that enterotoxigenic opportunistic enterobacteria were isolated from 68.99% of sick children, while from healthy children enterotoxigenic cultures were isolated in 3.33% of cases. Besides E. coli, enterotoxigenicity was also detected in other representatives of the family Enterobacteriaceae: C. freundii, Arizona, K. pneumoniae, H. alvei, Pr. vulgaris, Pr. morganii, Pr. rettgeri, Y. enterocolitica.