Comparison of two methods for the detection of verotoxin producing E.coli in human faecal samples during an outbreak of HUS in Apulia, Southern Italy.
This study evaluated the diagnostic performances of an ELISA method and a molecular method for the detection of verotoxin in faecal samples during an outbreak of haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) occurring in Apulia, Southern Italy. Two of the 16 faecal samples were positive for verotoxin when analysed by ELISA and resulted PCR positive for stx1, stx2, eaeA and serogroup O26. The other 14 faecal samples resulted negative with both tests. The detection of verotoxin in faecal samples by ELISA is a simple, sensitive, specific and rapid method (2 hours) of considerable utility for routine clinical testing laboratories without access to more specialized diagnostic procedures.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Bari, Italy.
Rosa
R
Monno
Istituto Zooprofilattico della Puglia e della Basilicata, Putignano, Italy.
Antonio
A
Parisi
Istituto Zooprofilattico della Puglia e della Basilicata, Putignano, Italy.
Cosimo
C
Montagna
Istituto Zooprofilattico della Puglia e della Basilicata, Putignano, Italy.
Nicoletta
N
Addante
Faculty of Medicine, University of Bari, Italy.
Carmen
C
Capolongo
Faculty of Medicine, University of Bari, Italy.
Elena
E
Baglivo
Faculty of Medicine, University of Bari, Italy.
Giuseppe
G
Miragliotta
D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000235:genetics*
D022603:Shiga Toxins
ELISA; HUS; VTEC