Pathogenic characteristics of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli detected in diarrhea patients in Yantai, 2014–2017

Objective To investigate the distribution characteristics of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in the foodborne diseases of Yantai, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of this treatment. Methods The suspected diarrheagenic E. coli strains were confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction, and the pathogenic types of the diarrheagenic E. coli strains were identified according to the results of virulence genes detection. Results A total of 25 strains of diarrheagenic E. coli were detected from the stool samples of 1 174 patients with diarrhea, including 15 strains of enteroaggregative E. coli, 8 strains of enterotoxigenic E. coli, 2 strains of enteropathogenic E. coli, no enterohemorrhagic E. coli and enteroinvasive E. coli strains were detected. The patients infected with diarrheagenic E. coli accounted for 2.13% of the total diarrhea patients. The main pathogenic gene was the pic, accounting for 53.33%. The detection rate in age group 20–24 years was highest (64.00%). The detection rate during June–October was 84.00%. Conclusion Enteroaggregative E. coli carrying virulence gene pic was the major pathogen causing diarrhea in Yantai. The disease mainly affected age group 20–44 years. The detection rate of the pathogens was highest in summer and autumn.