ANTIBODY-RESPONSES AGAINST ESCHERICHIA-COLI HEAT-LABILE TOXIN AND COLONIZATION FACTOR ANGIOTENSIN-I AND ANGIOTENSIN-II IN ARGENTINEAN CHILDREN

Serum antibody responses against Escherichia coli heat-labile enteroto xin (LT) and colonization factor antigens (CFAs)I and II were studied in 84 children <5 years old living in two communities, These villages differed in the quality of their drinking water, Children from both co mmunities developed significantly increased antibody titers against LT and CFA/II but not against CFA/I during 3 months of follow-up, The ma gnitude of the anti-LT response was significantly higher in children f rom Zaiman than in those from Las Dolores. Antibody titers rose to max imum levels during the second year of age and reached relatively const ant levels in children aged 2-5 years, probably due to repeated exposu re to enterotoxigenic E. coli strains, Antibody levels of 30 children were followed for 2 years; increases in anti-LT and anti-CFA titers va ried in the different age groups.