Abstract
Background
Diarrhoea remains a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in low-income countries (LICs). The frequency of diarrhoeal episodes may vary by season, yet few prospective cohort studies have examined seasonal variation among various diarrhoeal pathogens using multiplex qPCR to analyse bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens.
Methods
We combined our recent qPCR data of diarrhoeal pathogens (nine bacterial, five viral and four parasitic) among Guinea-Bissauan children under five years old with individual background data, dividing by season. The associations of season (dry winter and rainy summer) and the various pathogens were explored among infants (0–11 months) and young children (12–59 months) and those with and without diarrhoea.
Results
Many bacterial pathogens, especially EAEC, ETEC and Campylobacter, and parasitic Cryptosporidium, prevailed in the rainy season, whereas many viruses, particularly the adenovirus, astrovirus and rotavirus proved common in the dry season. Noroviruses were found constantly throughout the year. Seasonal variation was observed in both age groups.
Conclusion
In childhood diarrhoea in a West African LIC, seasonal variation appears to favour EAEC, ETEC, and Cryptosporidium in the rainy and viral pathogens in the dry season.
Funder
Finnish Governmental Subsidy for Health Science Research
Scandinavian Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy Foundation
Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö
Doctoral School of Health Science, University of Helsinki
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subject
Infectious Diseases,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cited by
3 articles.
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