Abstract

This study analyzed a host of parasite agents and bacterial viruses in 1,079 children aged 0 to 5 years suffering from diarrhea between 2004 and 2008. Enteric pathogens were detected in 767 (71%) infected patients and 456 control patients. Enteric pathogens were isolated from 41 (8.9%) of the infected patients. Isolated pathogens responsible for gastroenteritis were as follows: Rotavirus 282 (26.1%), Shigella 19 (1.7%), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli 153 (60.9%), entero-invasive E. coli 30 (11.9%) and enterotoxigenic E. coli 68 (27%). Among the E. coli serotypes; O111:K58:B4, 055:K59:B5, 0127:K63:B8:, 026:K60:B17, 124:K72:B17, 0125:K70:B15 were found in 48, 39, 29, 19, 9 and 5 (19.1, 15.5, 11.5, 7.5, 3.5 and 1.9%) of the cases, respectively. In two of the infected patients, both 128:K67:B12 and 0112:K66:B11 types were isolated together. Also, 0112:K66:B11 and 0128:K67:B12 types were isolated together only in two cases. Rotavirus was detected by enzyme immunoassay (EI) and rapid latex agglutination (LA) test in 26.1% of the fecal specimens from 1,079 children who had acute diarrhea and 4.3% of the fecal specimens of the 250 healthy controls. Infections were detected most commonly in children aged 0 to 2 months (54.8%). In the identification of rotavirus, the two methods, LA and EI were also compared. In diarrheal fecal samples, Entamoebae histolytica was found in 25.4% and Giardia lamblia was found in 18.4% patients.

Key words: Gastroenteritis, enteropathogens, rotavirus.