Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli -: an emerging problem?

Diarrhea remains one of the main sources of morbidity and morbidity in todays world and a large proportion is caused by diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. They are a particuar problem in developed countries although traveler's diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis are also a problem in developed countries. There are seven classes of diarrheagenic E. coli, namely enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC),enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroaggreative E. coli (EAggEC), diarrhea-associated hemolytic E. coli (DHEC) and cytolethal distending toxin (CDT)- producing E. coli. Many of their virukence determinants have been determined and some classes of diarrheagenic E. coli produce toxins. The virulence factors of some diarrhogenic E. coli have yet to be full determined and in the meantime they remain a large and emerging problem without the availability of effective vaccines. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.