Parasitic, bacterial, and viral enteric pathogens associated with diarrhea in the Central African Republic

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Abstract
Diarrheic children (1197) < 15 yr old were investigated for parasitic, bacterial and viral enteropathogens from March 1981-Feb. 1982 in the Central African Republic; pathogens were identified from 49.4% of the patients. Rotavirus was the most frequently identified pathogen among children < 18 mo. old. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli was the 2nd most frequently isolated pathogen (12.1%) in children < 2 yr of age. Campylobacter jejuni [C. fetus ssp. jejuni] was also isolated frequently from diarrheic children < 5 yr of age (10.9%). Entamoeba histolytica was identified in very young children and was the most frequent enteropathogen associated with diarrhea in children over the age of 2 yr. Enterotoxigenic E. coli was rarely isolated (.apprx. 2%). There was a peak in the incidence of rotavirus during the dry season and in the incidence of C. jejuni during the rainy season.