ABSTRACT
Enterotoxigenic Escherichica coli (ETEC) is one of the most common causes of diarrheal disease in the developing world [1]. In these areas, on an annual basis, ETEC results in an estimated 280-400 million diarrheal episodes in children under 5 years and an additional 100 million episodes in children aged 5-14 years [2,3]. Moreover, ETEC causes substantial disease in indigenous adults in developing countries, with the estimated number of cases per year in persons above 15 years exceeding 400 million [3]. Additionally, Western travelers who visit developing countries are frequently infected with ETEC, which is responsible for one-third to onehalf of all diarrheal episodes in travelers to Africa, Asia, and Latin America [4].
