The occurrence of colonisation factors (CFA/I, CFA/II and E8775) in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli from various countries in South East Asia.

Four hundred and fifty-eight enterotoxigenic strains of Escherichia coli (ETEC) were examined for the presence of colonisation factor antigens (CFA) I and II, and the putative colonisation factor, E8775, using an immunodiffusion technique with specific antisera. The ETEC strains had been isolated in Thailand, Bangladesh and from travellers returning to Japan from abroad. Approximately 14% of the ETEC strains possessed CFA/I and a further 13% of the strains possessed CFA/II. The E8775 antigen was found on 5% of the strains. CFA/I was found on strains of the serogroups 04, 015, 063, 078, 090, 0110, 0126, 0128, 0153, and 0? CFA/II was found on strains of the serogroups 06, 08, 09, 078, 0115, 0139, 0? and 0 rough. The E8775 antigen was found on strains of the serogroups 025, 0115, and 0167. The results of this study emphasise the need to continue the search for other mechanisms of adhesion used by ETEC strains, and in particular strains of the serogroups 027, 034, 0148 and 0166.