Prevalence of Virulence Genes Associated with Diarrheagenic Pathotypes of Isolates from Water, Sediment, Fish, and Crab in Aby Lagoon, Côte d'Ivoire.

This study was conducted to characterize virulence genes of isolates from water, sediment, fish, and crab in Aby Lagoon. Serogrouping was performed by EPEC antisera in 113 strains. The presence of diarrhea-associated genes and was assessed by multiplex PCR using specific primers. Based on the multiplex PCR, sixty-two isolates (42 from water, 19 from sediment, and 1 from crab) were positive for virulence genes, including 34 positive for (ETEC), 46 positive for (ETEC), 24 positive for both and 6 positive for (EHEC), 1 positive for both + , and 1 positive for both + Genes (EPEC) and (EAEC) were not detected. Nine serogroups (O114, O127, O55, O111, O86, O119, O126, O128, and O142) were identified. This study revealed the presence of diarrheagenic and nondiarrheagenic and potential public health risks if fishery products are not appropriately cooked.