The genetic relationship among the Escherichia coli pathotypes was investigated. We used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) data for constructing a dendrogram of 73 strains of diarrheagenic E. coli. A phylogenetic tree encompassing 15 serotypes from different pathotypes was constructed using multilocus sequence typing data. Phylogram clusters were used for validating RAPD data on the clonality of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) O serogroup strains. Both analyses showed very similar topologies, characterized by the presence of two major groups: group A includes EPEC H6 and H34 strains and group B contains the other EPEC strains plus all serotypes belonging to atypical EPEC, enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). These results confirm the existence of two evolutionary divergent groups in EPEC: one is genetically and serologically very homogeneous whereas the other harbors EPEC and non-EPEC serotypes. The same situation was found for EAEC and EHEC.

Strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are responsible for significant rates of morbidity and mortality among children, particularly in developing countries. The majority of clinical and public health laboratories are capable of isolating and identifying Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, and Escherichia coli O157:H7 from stool samples, but ETEC cannot be identified by routine methods. The method most often used to identify ETEC is polymerase chain reaction for heat-stable and heat-labile enterotoxin genes, and subsequent serotyping, but most clinical and public health laboratories do not have the capacity or resources to perform these tests. In this study, polyclonal rabbit and monoclonal mouse IgG2b antibodies against ETEC heat-labile toxin-I (LT) were characterized and the potential applicability of a capture assay was analyzed. IgG-enriched fractions from rabbit polyclonal and the IgG2b monoclonal antibodies recognized LT in a conformational shape and they were excellent tools for detection of LT-producing strains. These findings indicate that the capture immunoassay could be used as a diagnostic assay of ETEC LT-producing strains in routine diagnosis and in epidemiological studies of diarrhea in developing countries as enzyme linked immunosorbent assay techniques remain as effective and economical choice for the detection of specific pathogen antigens in cultures.

The socalled enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) O serogroups include typical and atypical EPEC, enterohaemorrragic E. coli, enterotoxigenic E. coli, and enteroaggregative E. coli. The aim of this article is to review the composition of each O serogroup and the major serotypes, clones, and additional virulence characteristics of each of these diarrheageniccategories. Their adherence patterns and genetic relationships are also presented. The review is based on the study of 805 strains of serogroups O26, O55, O86, O111, O114, O119, O125, O126, O1127, O128, and O142 most of which isolated in São Paulo from children with diarrhea between 1970 and 1990. Since some O serogroups include more than one diarrheageniccategory O serogrouping only should be abandoned as a diagnostic method. However serotyping is a reliable method for those serotypes that correspond to clones.

Quarenta e uma amostras de Escherichia coli enteropatogênica (EPEC) típicas e atípicas do sorogrupo O55 foram analisadas com relação à diversidade genética através da técnica de RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA). Todas amostras de EPEC O55 típicas ficaram localizadas em 2 grupos (A e C) e pertenciam ao sorotipo O55:H6, enquanto que o grupo B compreendia todas as amostras atípicas, as quais eram do sorotipo O55:H7. Os três grupos apresentavam também amostras imóveis. A técnica de RAPD pode ser uma ferramenta de grande utilidade em estudos epidemiológicos da infecção pela E. coli O55.

The genetic diversity of 41 typical and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains of the serogroup O55 was analyzed by using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method. All typical EPEC O55 strains were grouped in two clusters (A and C) and belonged to the serotype O55:H6, while cluster B included all atypical strains, which were of the serotype O55:H7. The three groups also included non-motile strains. RAPD may be a useful method for epidemiological studies on E. coli O55 infection.

Campylobacter jejuni foi pesquisado nas fezes de 262 crianças, sendo 189 com diarréia aguda, 31 com diarréia crônica e 42 sem sintomatologia gastrintestinal. A bactéria foi encontrada em 14 (7,4%), 2 (6,5%) e 6 (14,3%) das crianças, em cada um dos grupos, respectivamente.

Campylobacter jejuni was looked for in the feaces of 262 children, beeing 189 with acute diarrhoea, 31 with chronic diarrhoea and 42 controls. The organism was isolated from 14 (7.4%), 2 (6.5%) and 6 (14.3%) of the children, and each group, respectively.