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Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in the domestic environment of a Malaysian village

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

J. Vadivelu ,
R. G. Feachem ,
B. S. Drasar ,
T. J. Harrison ,
N. Parasakthi ,
V. Thambypillai  and
S. D. Puthucheary
J. Vadivelu
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Hygiene, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
R. G. Feachem
Affiliation:
Department of Tropical Hygiene, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
B. S. Drasar*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
T. J. Harrison
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK
N. Parasakthi
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, W. Malaysia
V. Thambypillai
Affiliation:
4and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, W. Malaysia
S. D. Puthucheary
Affiliation:
4and Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 59100 Kuala Lumpur, W. Malaysia
*
*Dr B. S. Drasar
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The membrane-filter assay, GM1-ELISA, and DNA-DNA hybridization assay, were used to detect enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in samples of water, weaning food, food preparation surface swabs, fingerprints of mothers, and the fingerprints and stools of children under 5 years of age, in 20 households in a Malaysian village. Weaning food and environmental samples were frequently contaminated by faecal coliforms, including ETEC. The membrane-filter assay detected and enumerated faecal coliforms and LT-ETEC in all types of water and weaning food samples. Highest concentrations of faecal coliforms and LT-ETEC were found in weaning food, followed by well-water, stored water and stored drinking water. The GM1-ELISA detected LT-ETEC in weaning food, food preparation surfaces, fingerprints and stool samples. The DNA-DNA hybridization assay detected a larger proportion of STa2-ETEC than the other toxotypes, either singly or in combination. All the assays in combination detected the presence of ETEC in all types of samples on at least one occasion in each household. It was not possible to classify households as consistently more or less contaminated with ETEC. On individual occasions it was possible to show a significant association of the presence of LT-ETEC between the fingerprints of children and their stools, fingerprints of mothers and children, and weaning food and the stools of the child consuming the food.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 103 , Issue 3 , December 1989 , pp. 497 - 511
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1989

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