Prevalence and risks factors of the novel Escherichia albertii among gastroenteritis patients in Kano State, Nigeria

Background: Escherichia albertii is an enteric bacteria associated with infectious gastroenteritis. However, information on this organism remains scant in Nigeria. The work was aimed at determining the prevalence of E. albertii among gastroenteritis patients (GEP) in relation to some risk and demographic factors. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional hospital-based research. A total of 540 stool samples, 450 from GEPs and 90 from apparently healthy individuals, were screened for the pathogen. The isolates were characterized by using both conventional and molecular techniques. Data were obtained using a structured questionnaire and were analyzed for the determination of some risk and demographic factors. Odds ratio and chi-square were used to ascertain the relationship between the factors and the disease. Results: Escherichia albertii was detected with an overall prevalence of 1.1%, which was 1.3% and 0% in the GEPs and apparently healthy individuals, respectively (Odd ratio = 2.6468, 95% CI, 0.1478–47.4042). Diarrhea and abdominal pain were statistically the significant manifestations of the disease. There was an equal prevalence in both males and females (1.3%), however, by chance higher (2.1%) among children aged 0 to 10 years. Additionally, primary school as the highest educational status and open defecation were found to be the risk factors of the infection. Conclusions: Escherichia albertii should be routinely targeted diagnostically in the patients presented with gastroenteritis in the studied area. Neither gender nor age was a risk factor, however open defecation was a significant risk factor of the disease.