Characteristics of Escherichia coli isolates from infantile and childhood diarrhea.

Seventy-five strains of Escherichia coli from cases of infantile and childhood diarrhea were serogrouped and analysed in terms of hydrophobicity, mannose resistant haemagglutination and enterotoxigenicity. The strains were distributed over 21 serogroups of which 54.6% were hydrophobic, 37.3% were haemagglutinating and 66.5% were enterotoxigenic. EPEC strains were less than ETEC strains. LT producers were more than LTST or ST producers. MRHA activity was found to be well correlated with hydrophobicity.