Zhongguo shipin weisheng zazhi (Jun 2024)

Analysis of the infection and molecular characteristics of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in a specific district of Beijing City, 2018—2022

  • ZHANG Shuang,
  • WANG Anna,
  • FU Kuiyuan,
  • WANG Yuanyuan,
  • LI Ying,
  • LI Hui,
  • ZHANG Jiantao,
  • WANG Huibo,
  • WANG Lili

DOI
https://doi.org/10.13590/j.cjfh.2024.06.014
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 36, no. 6
pp. 729 – 734

Abstract

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ObjectiveTo comprehend the epidemiological and molecular characteristics of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) in a specific district of Beijing City from 2018 to 2022, aiming to provide evidence for the prevention and control of related diseases.MethodsStool specimens of 1 600 diarrhea cases were collected from 3 surveillance sentinel hospitals in one district of Beijing from 2018 to 2022, and DEC strains were isolated from the specimens. The virulence genes were detected by multiplex PCR, and the pathogenic types were obtained. The epidemiological and clinical data were analyzed. Simultaneously, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to ascertain the molecular types of the strains. Cluster analysis was performed on the fingerprints of ETEC, EPEC, and EAEC strains.ResultsDEC strains were isolated in 144 of 1 600 specimens from one district of Beijing from 2018 to 2022, with a detection rate of 9.00% (144/1 600). The primary pathogenic type was ETEC, followed by EPEC, EAEC, and EHEC, no EIEC cases were detected. The male-to-female ratio of DEC infection cases was 1.48∶1, with the highest detection rate occurring in the 31~45 age group (11.15%, 59/529). The year 2019 exhibited the highest positive detection rate of DEC, with the highest rates consistently observed during the summer months. Significant differences in the positive detection rate of DEC were observed among different age groups and years. Most of the DEC-positive patients suffered diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal pain and watery stool. The 144 DEC strains yielded 111 bands, with homology ranging from 13.07% to 100.00%. Isolates of the same type ranged from 2 to 7 strains, and their separation intervals varied from the same day to several years.ConclusionETEC and EPEC were the predominant pathogenic types of DEC in this area, while EHEC infections persisted. DEC exhibited a high incidence during the summer and was more frequently detected in young adults. The PFGE bands exhibited a highly polymorphic distribution.

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