[Diarrhea due to enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in New Caledonia. Epidemiology and bacteriologic aspects].

Three types of Escherichia coli play important roles in the etiology of acute diarrhoea. Depending on the pathogenicity mechanisms involved, the E. coli intestinal strains can be divided into enteropathogenic (EPEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC) and enterotoxigenic (ETEC) strains. We have studied ETEC in New-Caledonia. In one year 53 strains were isolated. ETEC are isolated frequently during the wet season in melanesian children with a law hygiene level. A correlation has been established between the fermentation of the rhamnose and the production of heat-stable toxin (ST). All the strains ST+ had the same antibiotype (8 resistances). The strains producing heat-labile toxin (LT) had various antibiotypes. Eleven O serotypes have been identified and the 078 is the most frequent. An another plan we have identified serotypes found in Australia and in the SE Asian.