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Seasonal variation of HUS occurrence and VTEC infection in children with acute diarrhoea from Argentina

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Abstract

In order to study the seasonality of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) infection in children, 437 patients under 6 years of age with acute diarrhoea were studied, 8% of whom progressed to HUS. VTEC was found in 10% of all of the stool samples analysed and seasonal occurrence of HUS (p < 0.01) was confirmed. VTEC infection was more prevalent in warm months, although the differences were not statistically significant. Moreover, a significant difference in the detection of O157:H7 serotype and in the vt profile between cold and warm months (autumn and winter; spring and summer, respectively) was established. The O157:H7 serotype was isolated more frequently during warm months. Moreover, a predominance of vt 2 was noted, which was partially replaced by the combination of vt 1 with vt 2 in the cold season. The results of this study indicate the seasonal variation of the disease and the presence of serotype O157:H7 and the vt types. They also reinforce the need to develop prevention programmes considering the seasonal pattern of the disease, which would generate an impact on public health. Control strategies of the pathogen in cattle in the most risky season of the year would also be of benefit.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the following institutions for their help in the sample collection: “Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría”, “Hospital Ramón Santamarina”, “Laboratorio Pérez Cambet”, “Nueva Clínica Chacabuco”, “Municipalidad de Bahía Blanca, Hospital Dr. José Penna”, “Hospital Alejandro Posadas” and “Nuevo Hospital de Río Cuarto San Antonio de Padua”.

This work was possible through grants from “Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas Provincia de Buenos Aires”, “Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas”, “Fundación Alberto J. Roemmers”, “Secretaría de Ciencia, Arte y Tecnología—Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires” and “Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica”.

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No competing financial interests exist.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Sanidad Animal y Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Pinto 399, 7000, Tandil, Argentina

    M. A. Rivero, J. A. Passucci, E. M. Rodríguez & A. E. Parma

  2. Metodología de la Investigación, Escuela Superior de Ciencias de la Salud—UNCPBA, Olavarría, Argentina

    M. A. Rivero, J. A. Passucci & E. M. Rodríguez

Authors
  1. M. A. Rivero
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  2. J. A. Passucci
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  3. E. M. Rodríguez
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  4. A. E. Parma
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Correspondence to M. A. Rivero.

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Rivero, M.A., Passucci, J.A., Rodríguez, E.M. et al. Seasonal variation of HUS occurrence and VTEC infection in children with acute diarrhoea from Argentina. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 31, 1131–1135 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-011-1418-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-011-1418-4

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