Genotypic and phenotypic features of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated in industrialized and developing countries

Simona Santona; Nicia Diaz; Pier Luigi Fiori; Moises Francisco; Mohsin Sidat; Piero Cappuccinelli; Paola Rappelli

doi:10.3855/jidc.3054

Genotypic and phenotypic features of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated in industrialized and developing countries

Authors

Simona Santona Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Nicia Diaz Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Pier Luigi Fiori Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Moises Francisco Department of Microbiology, University of Luanda, Luanda, Angola
Mohsin Sidat Department of Community Health, “E. Mondlane” University, Maputo, Mozambique
Piero Cappuccinelli Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
Paola Rappelli Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.3054

Keywords:

diarrhoeagenic E. coli, atypical EPEC, Italy, Mozambique, Angola

Abstract

Introduction: Typical EPEC are considered a leading cause of diarrhoea in developing countries, while atypical EPEC have been isolated more frequently in developed areas. The actual geographic distribution of the two EPEC subgroups is controversial, since data can be highly influenced by laboratory resources. This study aimed to compare the distribution of typical and atypical EPEC among children in developed and developing countries, and to characterize the bacterial isolates, using a unique methodological approach.

Methodology: A total of 1,049 E. coli were isolated from faeces of children with acute diarrhoea in Mozambique, Angola and Italy, and processed by PCR to assess the presence of a large panel of virulence genes. All isolates classified as EPEC were further characterized by evaluating adherence and capability to induce actin rearrangement on Hep-2 cells.

Results: Overall we isolated 59 EPEC, likewise distributed in the three countries, representing the 5.04%, 4.44% and 6.97% of all Mozambican, Angolan and Italian isolates, respectively. Nevertheless, the geographic distribution of the two EPEC subgroups was not homogeneous: in Italy we isolated 28 aEPEC but no tEPEC, while in Angola and Mozambique the percentage of the two subgroups was comparable. Twelve atypical EPEC were FAS positive and able to induce localized-like adherence on Hep-2 cells, but no correlation with the geographic origin of isolates was observed.

Conclusion: Atypical EPEC are present in sub-Saharan areas in a percentage similar to that of typical strains, and are not mainly restricted to industrialized countries, as it was previously supposed.

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Published

2013-03-14

How to Cite

Santona S, Diaz N, Fiori PL, Francisco M, Sidat M, Cappuccinelli P, Rappelli P (2013) Genotypic and phenotypic features of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated in industrialized and developing countries. J Infect Dev Ctries 7:214–219. doi: 10.3855/jidc.3054

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Issue

Vol. 7 No. 03: March 2013

Section

Original Articles

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