Prevalence of Escherichia Coli Pathotypes in Stools of HIV-Positive Adults Attending a HAART Clinic Ileife, Nigeria

Morbidity and mortality among HIV/AIDS patients are often exacerbated by opportunistic infections (OIs). Escherichia coli has emerged as a significant agent of OIs in HIV-positive patients. The use of highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART) has improved health outcomes, including a reduction in OIs like diarrhoea. This study aimed to identify and characterize the pathotypes of E. coli present in the stools of HIV-positive adults attending the HAART Clinic in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. E. coli was isolated and pathotyped based on the presence of specific virulence genes: eaeA, bfpA, stx1, stx2, eltB, estA, ipaH, pCVD, and EcoRI-PstI. Out of 271 stool samples examined, E. coli was detected in 27 (9.96%). Among the 72 E. coli strains isolated, 21 were identified as diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC): 11 (52.38%) were Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), 7 (33.33%) were Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and 3 (14.29%) were Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) pathotypes. Notably, five stool samples contained more than one DEC pathotype. The study found a low prevalence of DEC, with three major pathotypes prevalent among the HIV-positive adults sampled. Identifying specific E. coli pathotypes in HIV/AIDS patients is crucial for understanding potential complications and associated risks, which can guide clinicians in selecting appropriate treatments and managing bacterial co-infections more effectively.