Asrat D, Hathaway A, Ekwall E
Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 9086, Addis Ababa.
Ethiop Med J. 1999 Apr;37(2):71-84.
Between February 1992 and January 1993 different Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 86 (13.7%) of 630 patients with diarrhoea at Tikur Anbessa and Ethio-Swedish Children's Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In the same study population, Shigella spp. were found in 11.7% and Salmonella spp. in 3.8%. Campylobacter spp. were found in all age groups, but the majority were isolated from children less than five years of age (68.6%). Only 2 (0.9%) of 220 controls had campylobacter in their stools. Of the campylobacters that were differentiated at species level, Campylobacter jejuni accounted for 82.4% and Campylobacter coli for 17.6% of the isolates. Yersinia enterocolitica was not isolated from any tested stool specimen. More patients (53.1%) presented for investigation of diarrhoea during the months of April through July than during other parts of the year but there was no significant difference in the frequency of isolation of the three enteric pathogens studied during this period as compared to other months of the year. In 12 of the patients infected with Campylobacter spp., Shigella spp. or Salmonella spp. was concomitantly isolated from their stools. The most common symptoms and signs in both adults and children were watery diarrhoea in 82.4%, low grade fever in 78.4% and frequent vomiting in 45.9%. Dehydration ranging from mild to severe was observed in 25.4% of the 55 children with campylobacter infections. Of the 55 children 67.2% had signs of malnutrition and most of them (47.2%) were underweight. This study indicates that Campylobacter spp. are an important cause of diarrhoea both in adults and children in Addis Ababa, and should be considered routinely in the diagnosis of patients with diarrhoea.
1992年2月至1993年1月期间，在埃塞俄比亚亚的斯亚贝巴的提库尔·安贝萨医院和埃塞俄比亚-瑞典儿童医院，从630例腹泻患者中的86例（13.7%）分离出了不同的弯曲杆菌属菌株。在同一研究人群中，志贺菌属的检出率为11.7%，沙门菌属为3.8%。各年龄组均分离出弯曲杆菌属菌株，但大多数分离自5岁以下儿童（68.6%）。220名对照者中只有2例（0.9%）粪便中检出弯曲杆菌。在菌株水平上鉴别出的弯曲杆菌中，空肠弯曲杆菌占分离株的82.4%，结肠弯曲杆菌占17.6%。任何检测的粪便标本中均未分离出小肠结肠炎耶尔森菌。4月至7月期间因腹泻前来检查的患者更多（53.1%），但与一年中的其他月份相比，这一时期所研究的三种肠道病原体的分离频率没有显著差异。在12例感染弯曲杆菌属、志贺菌属或沙门菌属的患者粪便中同时分离出了其他菌属。成人和儿童最常见的症状和体征是水样腹泻（82.4%）、低热（78.4%）和频繁呕吐（45.9%）。在55例弯曲杆菌感染儿童中，25.4%出现了从轻度到重度的脱水。55例儿童中67.2%有营养不良体征，其中大多数（47.2%）体重不足。本研究表明，弯曲杆菌属是亚的斯亚贝巴成人和儿童腹泻的重要病因，在腹泻患者的诊断中应常规考虑。
