Abstract

CANATA, María Gabriela et al. Molecular characterization of virulence factors of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from feces of children with gastroenteritis at the Institute for Social Welfare Central Hospital in 2012. Pediatr. (Asunción) [online]. 2016, vol.43, n.1, pp.13-17. ISSN 1683-9803.  https://doi.org/10.18004/ped.2016.abril.13-17.

Introduction: Bacteria, such as Escherichia coli, cause diarrhea by producing various virulence factors encoded by genes, such as elt and est in enterotoxigenic strains (ETEC), eae in enteropathogenic strains (EPEC), Stx in enterohemorrhagic strains (EHEC) and AggR in enteroaggregative strains (EAEC). Objective: To detect by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genes encoding virulence factors in E. coli isolates from diarrheal stools of children who were admitted the Institute for Social Welfare (IPS) Central Hospital, from August to December 2012. Materials and Methods: We analyzed 94 isolates of E. coli. The DNA was extracted by the boiling method. Primers described by Merino et al in 2010 were used and strains carrying the virulence factors as positive amplification controls. Results: 46.80% (n = 44) of isolates carried virulence factors, the most frequent was clumping factor (AggR) in 40.42% of the samples. The eae gene was detected in 3 isolates (2.13%). Elt and ipaH were present in one isolate (1.06%), respectively and 4 (4.26%) were positive for Shiga toxin (Stx). Discussion: This study shows a high rate of production of virulence factors in E. coli isolated from diarrhea of ​​children, and the feasibility of detecting said factors quickly and accurately by molecular methods.

Keywords : E.coli; multiplex PCR; virulence factors; eae; AggR; elt; est; Stx; ipaH.

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