scholarly journals Evaluation of Enzyme Immunoassays and Real-Time PCR for Detecting Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Southern Alberta, Canada

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 1019-1023 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Chui ◽  
Laura Patterson-Fortin ◽  
Julie Kuo ◽  
Vincent Li ◽  
Valerie Boras

Two immunoassays (Shiga Toxin Chek and Shiga Toxin Quik Chek) and real-time PCR were used to detect Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli. For enriched culture, the sensitivity and specificity of the three methods ranged from 80.0% to 98.2% and 98.0% to 100.0%, respectively. STEC isolates were identified in 2.6% of the 784 samples.

2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (7) ◽  
pp. 2148-2153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuan Qin ◽  
Eileen J. Klein ◽  
Emmanouil Galanakis ◽  
Anita A. Thomas ◽  
Jennifer R. Stapp ◽  
...  

Timely accurate diagnosis of Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) infections is important. We evaluated a laboratory-developed real-time PCR (LD-PCR) assay targetingstx1,stx2, andrfbEO157with 2,386 qualifying stool samples submitted to the microbiology laboratory of a tertiary care pediatric center between July 2011 and December 2013. Broth cultures of PCR-positive samples were tested for Shiga toxins by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) (ImmunoCard STAT! enterohemorrhagicE. coli[EHEC]; Meridian Bioscience) and cultured in attempts to recover both O157 and non-O157 STEC.E. coliO157 and non-O157 STEC were detected in 35 and 18 cases, respectively. Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) occurred in 12 patients (10 infected with STEC O157, one infected with STEC O125ac, and one with PCR evidence of STEC but no resulting isolate). Among the 59 PCR-positive STEC specimens from 53 patients, only 29 (54.7%) of the associated specimens were toxin positive by EIA. LD-PCR differentiated STEC O157 from non-O157 usingrfbEO157, and LD-PCR results prompted successful recovery ofE. coliO157 (n= 25) and non-O157 STEC (n= 8) isolates, although the primary cultures and toxin assays were frequently negative. A rapid “mega”-multiplex PCR (FilmArray gastrointestinal panel; BioFire Diagnostics) was used retrospectively, and results correlated with LD-PCR findings in 25 (89%) of the 28 sorbitol-MacConkey agar culture-negative STEC cases. These findings demonstrate that PCR is more sensitive than EIA and/or culture and distinguishes between O157 and non-O157 STEC in clinical samples and thatE. coliO157:H7 remains the predominant cause of HUS in our institution. PCR is highly recommended for rapid diagnosis of pediatric STEC infections.


2013 ◽  
Vol 80 (3) ◽  
pp. 1177-1184 ◽  
Author(s):  
Delphine Bibbal ◽  
Estelle Loukiadis ◽  
Monique Kérourédan ◽  
Carine Peytavin de Garam ◽  
Franck Ferré ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTShiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) strains belonging to serotypes O157:H7, O26:H11, O103:H2, O111:H8, and O145:H28 are known to be associated with particular subtypes of the intimin gene (eae), namely, γ1, β1, ε, θ, and γ1, respectively. This study aimed at evaluating the usefulness of their detection for the specific detection of these five main pathogenic STEC serotypes in cattle feces. Using real-time PCR assays, 58.7% of 150 fecal samples were found positive for at least one of the four targetedeaesubtypes. The simultaneous presence ofstx,eae, and one of the five O group markers was found in 58.0% of the samples, and the five targetedstxpluseaeplus O genetic combinations were detected 143 times. However, taking into consideration the association betweeneaesubtypes and O group markers, the resultingstxpluseaesubtype plus O combinations were detected only 46 times. The 46 isolation assays performed allowed recovery of 22E. colistrains belonging to one of the five targeted STEC serogroups. In contrast, only 2 of 39 isolation assays performed on samples that were positive forstx,eaeand an O group marker, but that were negative for the correspondingeaesubtype, were successful. Characterization of the 24E. coliisolates showed that 6 were STEC, including 1 O157:H7, 3 O26:H11, and 2 O145:H28. The remaining 18 strains corresponded to atypical enteropathogenicE. coli(aEPEC). Finally, the more discriminatingeaesubtype-based PCR strategy described here may be helpful for the specific screening of the five major STEC in cattle feces.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1801
Author(s):  
Michael Bording-Jorgensen ◽  
Brendon D. Parsons ◽  
Gillian A.M. Tarr ◽  
Binal Shah-Gandhi ◽  
Colin Lloyd ◽  
...  

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are associated with acute gastroenteritis worldwide, which induces a high economic burden on both healthcare and individuals. Culture-independent diagnostic tests (CIDT) in frontline microbiology laboratories have been implemented in Alberta since 2019. The objectives of this study were to determine the association between gene detection and culture positivity over time using STEC microbiological clearance samples and also to establish the frequency of specimen submission. Both stx genes’ amplification by real-time PCR was performed with DNA extracted from stool samples using the easyMAG system. Stools were inoculated onto chromogenic agar for culture. An association between gene detection and culture positivity was found to be independent of which stx gene was present. CIDT can provide rapid reporting with less hands-on time and technical expertise. However, culture is still important for surveillance and early cluster detection. In addition, stool submissions could be reduced from daily to every 3–5 days until a sample is negative by culture.


2015 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 3935-3937 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Golparian ◽  
Stina Boräng ◽  
Martin Sundqvist ◽  
Magnus Unemo

The new BD Max GC real-time PCR assay showed high clinical and analytical sensitivity and specificity. It can be an effective and accurate supplementary test for the BD ProbeTec GC Qx amplified DNA assay, which had suboptimal specificity, and might also be used for initial detection ofNeisseria gonorrhoeae.


2013 ◽  
Vol 198 (2) ◽  
pp. 538-540 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae-Won Byun ◽  
Byeong Yeal Jung ◽  
Ha-Young Kim ◽  
John M. Fairbrother ◽  
Myoung-Heon Lee ◽  
...  

2005 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 1593-1599 ◽  
Author(s):  
MICHAEL A. GRANT

A new procedure for enrichment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and other Shiga toxin–producing E. coli was compared to five standard methods: the British Public Health Laboratory Service, International Standard Method, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Canadian Health Products and Food Branch, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The new procedure was comparable to the standard methods in its ability to detect target cells inoculated into foods at approximately 1 CFU g−1. Comparisons were also made of the ability of the six enrichment procedures to detect E. coli O157:H7 against a large background of competitor microorganisms. In these experiments the new procedure yielded more target cells than the other five enrichments by two to three orders of magnitude as determined by enumeration on sorbitol MacConkey agar with tellurite and cefixime and Rainbow agar with tellurite and novobiocin and by verification of presumptive colonies by real-time PCR. For example, the population of enterohemorrhagic E. coli strain 6341 recovered on sorbitol MacConkey agar with tellurite and cefixime after enrichment with the experimental method was 2.42 × 108 CFU ml−1 and 1.80 × 106 CFU ml−1 after enrichment with the Canadian Health Products and Food Branch method, the second most effective in this experiment. In addition, broth cultures resulting from each of the six enrichment procedures were used to prepare templates for real-time PCR detection of stx1/stx2. Resulting threshold cycle (Ct) values after the experimental enrichment were similar to positive control values, whereas the five standard methods produced delayed Ct values or were not detected.


2019 ◽  
Vol 82 (9) ◽  
pp. 1512-1523
Author(s):  
ODBERT A. TRIPLETT ◽  
JIEKUN XUAN ◽  
STEVEN FOLEY ◽  
RAJESH NAYAK ◽  
WILLIAM H. TOLLESON

ABSTRACT Having reliable methods for detecting Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in foods is an important food safety goal. The majority of STEC outbreaks have involved either the O157:H7 serotype or one of six non-O157 serogroups, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, termed “The Big Six.” We have compared detection by PCR of the Shiga toxin genes stx1a and stx2a from STEC bacteria isolated from unclarified apple juice by simple centrifugation with the use of an immunocapture technique to minimize contaminants (such as pectin and polyphenols that may copurify with DNA) that may interfere with DNA amplification efficiencies and limit sensitivity. An internal control for successful immunocapture, DNA extraction, and PCR amplification was generated by introducing the pmRaspberry plasmid into an stx null strain, yielding an E. coli O45 pmRaspberry derivative that can be added to food samples directly. Using serial dilutions of a representative Big Six STEC in apple juice, our immunocapture method resulted in a 50% probability of detection value of 3.34, 2.25, and 4.25 CFU for detection by multiplex real-time PCR, growth on solid agar, and multiplex endpoint PCR, respectively. The time to result was 6.5 h, 9.5 h, and 1.5 days for immunocapture of Big Six STECs and detection by multiplex real-time PCR, endpoint PCR, and growth on solid agar, respectively. A set of 52 Big Six STEC isolates and 30 non–Big Six STEC strains was used to establish the inclusivity and exclusivity of the method. Finally, the ability to detect Big Six STEC contamination reliably was confirmed at 4.5 and 45 CFU/25-mL portions of refrigerated apple juice.


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