Detection of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in Rotavirus-Infected Ghanaian Children Diagnosed with Acute Gastroenteritis

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Nov 15;106(2):523-524. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-0717.

Abstract

Diarrhea is a notable global health problem in several developing countries, especially in children. Prior to the introduction of the rotavirus vaccination program in Ghana, a surveillance study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of the disease caused by rotavirus in children. In this report, we re-used archival stool samples from the pre-vaccine surveillance study to provide information on prevalence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in Ghanaian children. Re-analysis of the stool samples revealed co-infection of enterotoxigenic E. coli and rotavirus in 2% of the children whose samples were selected for this study. As Ghana is approaching 10 years post-implementation of the rotavirus vaccination program, the preliminary data presented in this report are a vital reference for subsequent studies aimed at ascertaining the effect of the vaccine on both rotavirus and enterotoxigenic E. coli.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Child, Preschool
  • Diarrhea / epidemiology
  • Diarrhea / etiology
  • Diarrhea / microbiology
  • Diarrhea / virology
  • Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / complications*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Female
  • Gastroenteritis / diagnosis*
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology
  • Gastroenteritis / etiology
  • Gastroenteritis / microbiology
  • Ghana / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Rotavirus Infections / complications*
  • Rotavirus Infections / epidemiology