Age-Specific Prevalence of Antibody to Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in Ecuadorian and German Children

Abstract
Serum samples from 1397 Ecuadorian children 0–5 years of age were tested by ELISA for antibodies to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC). A gradual prevalence and titer increase was seen for IgG antibodies to heat-labile enterotoxin in children 6–18 months old; 90% prevalences were reached in the second year of life. At this age <10% of West German children showed IgG antibodies to heat-labile enterotoxin. In Ecuador age-related ETEC-specific antibody titer increases correlated with age-related prevalence of diarrheal disease. On the other hand, pooled lipopolysaccharide from different ETEC-associated 0 serogroups could not be used as a seroepidemiologic marker of ETEC infections.

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