ENTERO-TOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA-COLI DIARRHEA - ACQUIRED-IMMUNITY AND TRANSMISSION IN AN ENDEMIC AREA

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (2) , 263-268
Abstract
Enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) are an important cause of diarrhea in developing countries. Studies were made, in an endemic area of Bangladesh, of household contacts of patients with diarrhea associated with E. coli producing heat-stable and heat-labile toxins (ST/LT) or heat-stable toxin (ST) only. It was found that 11% of contacts were infected in the 10 day study period; both the rate of infection and the proportion of infected persons with diarrhea decreased with increasing age, suggesting the development of immunity. ETEC of the same serotype as that of the index patient were found in 9% of water sources used by index households, in a small number of food and drinking water specimens from the index homes and in feces from 3 healthy calves. The rate of infection of household members was highest in houses where there was contaminated food or water, which suggests that infection may take place in the home when contaminated water is brought in.