Table 1

Causes of infectious diarrhoea

EnteropathogenAcute watery diarrhoeaDysenteryPersistent diarrhoea
Viruses
    Rotavirus+−−
    Enteric adenovirus (types 40, 41)+−−
    Calicivirus+−−
    Astrovirus+−−
    Cytomegalovirus+++
Bacteria
    Vibrio cholera and other vibrios+−−
    Enterotoxigenic E coli(ETEC)+−−
    Enteropathogenic E coli(EPEC)+−+
    Enteroaggregative E coli(EAggEC)+−+
    Enteroinavsive E coli(EIEC)++−
    Enterohaemorraghic E coli(EHEC)++−
    Shigella spp+++
    Salmonella spp+++
    Campylobacter spp+++
    Yersinia spp+++
    Clostridium difficile +++
    Mycobacterium tuberculosis −++
Protozoa
    Giardia intestinalis +−+
    Cryptosporidium parvum +−+
    Microsporidia+−+
    Isospora belli +−+
    Cyclospora cayetanensis +−+
    Entamoeba histolytica +++
    Balantidium coli +++
Helminths
    Strongyloides stercoralis −−+
    Schistosoma spp−++