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Novel multiplex real-time PCR assays reveal a high prevalence of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes in healthy and diarrhoeal children in the south of Vietnam

Published version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Duong, Vu Thuy 
Tu, Le Thi Phuong 
Tuyen, Ha Thanh 
Nhi, Le Thi Quynh 
Campbell, James I. 

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) infections are common in children in low-middle income countries (LMICs). However, detecting the various DEC pathotypes is complex as they cannot be differentiated by classical microbiology. We developed four multiplex real-time PCR assays were to detect virulence markers of six DEC pathotypes; specificity was tested using DEC controls and other enteric pathogens. PCR amplicons from the six E. coli pathotypes were purified and amplified to be used to optimize PCR reactions and to calculate reproducibility. After validation, these assays were applied to clinical samples from healthy and diarrhoeal Vietnamese children and associated with clinical data. Results: The multiplex real-time PCRs were found to be reproducible, and specific. At least one DEC variant was detected in 34.7% (978/2815) of the faecal samples from diarrhoeal children; EAEC, EIEC and atypical EPEC were most frequent Notably, 41.2% (205/498) of samples from non-diarrhoeal children was positive with a DEC pathotype. In this population, only EIEC, which was detected in 34.3% (99/289) of diarrhoeal samples vs. 0.8% (4/498) non-diarrhoeal samples (p < 0.001), was significantly associated with diarrhoea. Multiplex real-time PCR when applied to clinical samples is an efficient and high-throughput approach to DEC pathotypes. Conclusions: This approach revealed high carriage rates of DEC pathotypes among Vietnamese children. We describe a novel diagnostic approach for DEC, which provides baseline data for future surveillance studies assessing DEC burden in LMICs.

Description

Keywords

Research Article, Clinical microbiology and vaccines, ETEC, EAEC, EIEC, EPEC, EHEC, Multiplex real-time PCR, Diarrhoea children, Healthy children, Co-infection

Journal Title

BMC Microbiology

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1471-2180

Volume Title

20

Publisher

BioMed Central
Sponsorship
Wellcome Trust (215515/Z/19/Z)