International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

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Improved Detection of Shigella Species in Diarrheic Children in Ghana Using Invasion Plasmid Antigen H-based Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique

Received: 21 November 2019    Accepted: 11 December 2019    Published: 24 December 2019
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Abstract

Shigella species play an important role in the morbidity and mortality of children <5 years of age in low and middle-income countries. Previous surveillance studies to evaluate the burden of Shigella disease in Ghana involved conventional culture method which most probably resulted in underestimated prevalence. As efforts are being made globally to introduce vaccines against Shigella and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), this study sought to establish Shigella burden of disease in children <5 years of age for the implementation of appropriate public health measures to control diarrheal disease in Ghana. The study reports data of a collaborative research between Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana and Tel Aviv University (TAU), Israel, under the STOPENTERICS FP7 programme. STOPENTERICS FP7 programme aims to provide novel prophylactic solutions by imposing a two-fold paradigm switch in the development of vaccine candidates against Shigella and ETEC. Bloody diarrheal stool samples were collected from children (cases) (n=269) and from healthy children (controls) (n=38) aged <5 years and tested by traditional culture method in the department of Bacteriology, NMIMR. Samples were shipped and tested using invasion plasmid antigen H-based (ipaH-based) molecular method in TAU. All cases and controls tended Shigella culture-negative at NMIMR. Retesting by ipaH PCR assay in TAU identified Shigella in 31.2% (n=84) of 269 cases and 2.6% (n=1) of 38 controls. The males represented 63.1% (n=53) whilst females represented 36.9% (n=32) of cases (p=0.009). The single asymptomatic carrier (n=1) of the 38 controls, was a 3-month old male child. The asymptomatic carrier in the control group may be regarded as a potential transmitter of disease to vulnerable children of the household. Sanger sequencing confirmed ipaH in 10% of the positive samples. The prevalence of >30% of shigellosis indicates a substantial contribution of Shigella to diarrheal burden in children <5 years in Ghana. The most appropriate diagnosis of shigellosis should be PCR which is capable of detecting small amounts of nucleic acid. Furthermore, molecular screening for the detection of Shigella must be carried out in conjunction with the traditional culture method since isolation alone, may underestimate the prevalence of Shigella. Continuous surveillance will be useful in making evidence-based decisions on the introduction of vaccines against Shigella and ETEC in Ghana.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijmb.20190404.14
Published in International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology (Volume 4, Issue 4, December 2019)
Page(s) 133-136
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Shigella, Children, Diarrhea, Ghana, Invasive Plasmid Antigen H (IpaH)

References
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Author Information
  • Department of Electron Microscopy and Histopathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

  • Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

  • Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

  • Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

  • Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

  • Department of Electron Microscopy and Histopathology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana

  • Sackler Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel

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    Susan Afua Damanka, Michael Ofori, Adi Behar, Shiri Meron Sudai, Anya Bialik, et al. (2019). Improved Detection of Shigella Species in Diarrheic Children in Ghana Using Invasion Plasmid Antigen H-based Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique. International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 4(4), 133-136. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmb.20190404.14

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    Susan Afua Damanka; Michael Ofori; Adi Behar; Shiri Meron Sudai; Anya Bialik, et al. Improved Detection of Shigella Species in Diarrheic Children in Ghana Using Invasion Plasmid Antigen H-based Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique. Int. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 2019, 4(4), 133-136. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmb.20190404.14

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    AMA Style

    Susan Afua Damanka, Michael Ofori, Adi Behar, Shiri Meron Sudai, Anya Bialik, et al. Improved Detection of Shigella Species in Diarrheic Children in Ghana Using Invasion Plasmid Antigen H-based Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique. Int J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2019;4(4):133-136. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmb.20190404.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmb.20190404.14,
      author = {Susan Afua Damanka and Michael Ofori and Adi Behar and Shiri Meron Sudai and Anya Bialik and George Enyimah Armah and Dani Cohen},
      title = {Improved Detection of Shigella Species in Diarrheic Children in Ghana Using Invasion Plasmid Antigen H-based Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique},
      journal = {International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology},
      volume = {4},
      number = {4},
      pages = {133-136},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmb.20190404.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmb.20190404.14},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmb.20190404.14},
      abstract = {Shigella species play an important role in the morbidity and mortality of children Shigella disease in Ghana involved conventional culture method which most probably resulted in underestimated prevalence. As efforts are being made globally to introduce vaccines against Shigella and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), this study sought to establish Shigella burden of disease in children Shigella and ETEC. Bloody diarrheal stool samples were collected from children (cases) (n=269) and from healthy children (controls) (n=38) aged ipaH-based) molecular method in TAU. All cases and controls tended Shigella culture-negative at NMIMR. Retesting by ipaH PCR assay in TAU identified Shigella in 31.2% (n=84) of 269 cases and 2.6% (n=1) of 38 controls. The males represented 63.1% (n=53) whilst females represented 36.9% (n=32) of cases (p=0.009). The single asymptomatic carrier (n=1) of the 38 controls, was a 3-month old male child. The asymptomatic carrier in the control group may be regarded as a potential transmitter of disease to vulnerable children of the household. Sanger sequencing confirmed ipaH in 10% of the positive samples. The prevalence of >30% of shigellosis indicates a substantial contribution of Shigella to diarrheal burden in children Shigella must be carried out in conjunction with the traditional culture method since isolation alone, may underestimate the prevalence of Shigella. Continuous surveillance will be useful in making evidence-based decisions on the introduction of vaccines against Shigella and ETEC in Ghana.},
     year = {2019}
    }
    

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    T1  - Improved Detection of Shigella Species in Diarrheic Children in Ghana Using Invasion Plasmid Antigen H-based Polymerase Chain Reaction Technique
    AU  - Susan Afua Damanka
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    AB  - Shigella species play an important role in the morbidity and mortality of children Shigella disease in Ghana involved conventional culture method which most probably resulted in underestimated prevalence. As efforts are being made globally to introduce vaccines against Shigella and Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), this study sought to establish Shigella burden of disease in children Shigella and ETEC. Bloody diarrheal stool samples were collected from children (cases) (n=269) and from healthy children (controls) (n=38) aged ipaH-based) molecular method in TAU. All cases and controls tended Shigella culture-negative at NMIMR. Retesting by ipaH PCR assay in TAU identified Shigella in 31.2% (n=84) of 269 cases and 2.6% (n=1) of 38 controls. The males represented 63.1% (n=53) whilst females represented 36.9% (n=32) of cases (p=0.009). The single asymptomatic carrier (n=1) of the 38 controls, was a 3-month old male child. The asymptomatic carrier in the control group may be regarded as a potential transmitter of disease to vulnerable children of the household. Sanger sequencing confirmed ipaH in 10% of the positive samples. The prevalence of >30% of shigellosis indicates a substantial contribution of Shigella to diarrheal burden in children Shigella must be carried out in conjunction with the traditional culture method since isolation alone, may underestimate the prevalence of Shigella. Continuous surveillance will be useful in making evidence-based decisions on the introduction of vaccines against Shigella and ETEC in Ghana.
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