Chronic Diarrhea, Hemorrhagic Colitis, and Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome Associated with HEp-2 Adherent Escherichia coli in Adults Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Bangui, Central African Republic

In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults from the Central African Republic, the occurrence of chronic diarrhea due to HEp-2 adherent Escherichia coli (EAEC) harboring virulence markers (eaeA, BFP, EAF, astA determinant of EAST/1, positive FAS test, enteropathogenic E. coli O serogroup) was shown to be associated with AIDS. We also show that EAEC that produce verotoxin (Stx2) but do not harbor the genetic markers for classical enterohemorrhagic E. coli are involved in hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome in patients with HIV.