Molecular Prevalence and Epidemiological Characteristics of Diarrheagenic <i>E. coli</i> in Children under 5 Years Old in the City of Koula-Moutou, East-Central Gabon

Background and Purpose: Diarrhoeagenic E. coli (DEC) is one of the germs responsible for childhood diarrhea in developing countries. This study aims at determining prevalence five main pathotypes DEC isolated from faeces children under years old with or not, living city Koula-Moutou. Methodology: Isolates were phenotypically screened on chromIDTM agar molecularly by multiplex PCR to detect presence enteroaggregative (EAEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enterohemorragic (EHEC) enteroinvasive (EIEC). The evaluation their sensitivity 12 β-lactam antibiotic molecules was carried out Kirby Bauer method. method has also made it possible characterize different β-lactamases produced. Results Conclusion: Overall, least pathovar detected 63 strains phenotypic molecular frequencies 63.5% 68.5% respectively. Thus, ETEC (28.3%) EHEC most frequent diarrheal isolates. ETEC/EHEC hybrid recorded both groups rates 7.5% cases 10.0% controls. results showed produced carbapenemase type (31.7%), followed ESBL (24.4%) few high level penicillinases (4.9%). DEC, particular are likely epidemiological agents this study.