Identification of Shiga-like toxin Escherichia coli isolated from children with diarrhea by polymerase chain reaction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the etiology of Shiga like toxin producing Escherichia coli (SLTEC) in children with diarrhea.


METHODS
We designed and synthesized 3 pairs of primers located in the SLT1, SLT2, and eaeA genes of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), while the virulent genes SLT1, SLT2, and eaeA from E.coli species were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).


RESULTS
One strain of EHEC with SLT1, SLT2, and eaeA in 29 reference strains of diarrhea-causing E.coli (DCEC) and 10 strains of other enterobacteria detected by PCR had positive reactions, while all other DCEC and enterobacteria were negative. Of 474 strains of E. coli isolated from 1032 children with diarrhea and detected by PCR, 20 strains of SLT1 producing E. coli (4.2%) positive, and 7 strains of SLT2 producing E. coli (1.5%) positive; while of 74 strains of entero-SLTs-producing and invasive Escherichia coli (ESIEC), 15 strains of SLT1 (20.3%) and 5 strains of SLT2 (6.8%) were positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Shiga-like toxin E. coli has been identified as a major etiologic agent of children with diarrhea in Taiyuan, China.
Zhu
Qingyi
Q
Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, Shanxi Children's Hospital, Taiyuan 030013, China.
Li
Lianqing
L
Guo
Zhaobiao
Z
Yang
Ruifu
R
D002648:Child; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000235:genetics*
D022603:Shiga Toxins