African Journal of
Microbiology Research

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Microbiol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1996-0808
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJMR
  • Start Year: 2007
  • Published Articles: 5236

Full Length Research Paper

Etiology of children’s diarrhoea in Southern India: Associated pathogens and usual isolates

Subashkumar R.1*, Tha. Thayumanavan2, G. Vivekanandhan1 and P. Lakshmanaperumalsamy3
1PG and Research Department of Biotechnology, Kongunadu Arts and Science College, Coimbatore – 641 029, India. 2School of Biotechnology, Dr. G.R. Damodaran College of Science, Coimbatore – 641 014, India. 3Karpagam University, Coimbatore – 641 021, India
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 27 February 2012
  •  Published: 23 March 2012

Abstract

The frequency of diarrhoeagenic bacteria, isolated from all sampling areas showed thatEscherichia coli was recorded as the predominant bacterium with 58.57%, followed byVibrioSalmonellaAeromonasShigellaPseudomonasStreptococcusProteus andStaphylococcus with 40.58, 33.47, 30.54, 10.46, 10.04, 10.04, 7.11 and 5.43%, respectively. E. coli is the most significant aetiological agent of childhood diarrhoea and represents a major public health problem in many developing countries. Vibrio is well known as a causative agent of gastrointestinal, extra intestinal and wound infections leading to fatalities in some cases. Other diarrhoeagenic bacteria may be significant and cause diarrhoeal infection in this study area.
 
Key words: Gastroenteritis, paediatric infections, diarrhoeagenic bacteria.