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[Diagnostic value of bacteriologic and serologic studies in detecting intestinal yersiniosis in children]
Insights
Enteric yersiniosis affects 15.5% of children with diarrhea. Early diagnosis is crucial as symptoms mimic other infectious diarrheas, especially in children aged 1-7 years.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
- Immunology
Context:
- Enteric yersiniosis is a significant cause of diarrhea in children.
- Clinical presentation often overlaps with other infectious diarrheal diseases.
- Limited data exists on the prevalence and diagnostic approaches in pediatric populations.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of enteric yersiniosis in children with diarrhea.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods for Yersinia enterocolitica infection.
- To understand the serological response and clinical characteristics of pediatric yersiniosis.
Summary:
- A survey of 200 children with diarrhea identified enteric yersiniosis in 15.5% (31 children).
- Yersinia enterocolitica was cultured from 8.5% (17 children), and serological evidence was found in 13.5% (27 children).
- No cases were found in 100 healthy children, suggesting yersiniosis is not a common cause of asymptomatic carriage.
Impact:
- Highlights the underrecognized burden of enteric yersiniosis in pediatric diarrhea.
- Recommends routine screening for enteric yersiniosis in children aged 1-7 years presenting with diarrhea.
- Emphasizes the need for specific diagnostic tools, including cold enrichment culture and serological tests (indirect hemagglutination).
Abstract:
The survey of 200 children with diarrhea revealed the presence of enteric yersiniosis in 31 children (15.5%). Y. enterocolitica culture was isolated from the feces of 17 children (8.5%), diagnostic serological shifts were detected in 27 children (13.5%). Among 100 children hospitalized with diarrhea of previously established etiology (dysentery, salmonellosis, etc) 6 children were found to have yersiniosis. The survey of 100 practically healthy children did not reveal any cases of enteric yersiniosis or healthy carriership. To isolate Yersinia, the feces were incubated in phosphate buffer in the cold (4--6 degrees C) and then inoculated into common diagnostic media for enterobacteria. Antibodies were detected in the indirect hemagglutination test with the use of dried erythrocytic yersiniosis diagnostic reagent. A tentative diagnostic titer of 1 : 200 was determined. Antibodies to the causative agent appeared on the 1st week, reached the maximum level on the 2nd and then gradually decreased. The clinical symptoms of the enteric form of yersiniosis resemble those of other kinds of infectious diarrhea, non-dysenteric in etiology. The authors believe that it is necessary for all children with diarrhea, especially at the age of 1--7 years, to be examined for enteric yersiniosis.