Prevalence of enteroaggregative and other HEp-2 cell adherent Escherichia coli in asymptomatic rural south Indians by longitudinal sampling

Enteroaggregative and other HEp-2 cell adherent Escherichia coli can produc e acute and persistent diarrhoea in children and adults, but their prevalen ce in asymptomatic individuals in the community is not known. In this study , faecal specimens were obtained at 3-4 monthly intervals from 349 subjects constituting a 20% age-stratified sample of a rural community for a period of two years. HEp-2 cell adherent E. coli were found in 210 subjects, and repeat isolations of enteroaggregative E. coli belonging to the same serogr oup were found in 12.6% of children less than 12 years of age, indicating t hat this organism can asymptomatically colonise the intestinal tract. These children may act as a reservoir of infection for the community.