Comparison of rapid methods for detection of heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) enterotoxin in Escherichia coli.

Oxoid VET-RPLA, ST-EIA and Pharmacia Phadebact ETEC-LT enterotoxin tests were compared to find a simple but reliable method for detecting enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) in Hungary. In the Oxoid tests, all six reference LT- or ST-producing strains, except one ST-producer, gave positive results. Of 11 reference porcine enterotoxigenic strains, all four LT-producers gave positive reactions for LT but three of 10 ST-producers gave negative reactions for ST.

The role in sporadic enteritis of facultatively enteropathogenic Escherichia coli serogroups.

During a two-year period, 2411 faecal specimens and 514 throat swabs were cultured from 1674 persons, mainly infants and children. Of 31 Escherichia coli serogroups considered to represent facultatively enteropathogenic agents, the following were encountered: O4, O18a,b, O18a,c, O19, O20, O25, O28a,b, O32, O51, O53, O75, O78, O79, O105, O112a,c, O114, O115, O117, O129, O143, O145, O148. There was no significant difference in the incidence of the organisms and their serogroup distribution between patients with enteritis, patients with extraintestinal diseases and healthy individuals.

Study of Escherichia coli O114 associated with a hospital outbreak.

Escherichia coli O114 strains isolated from infants in the course of a hospital outbreak of enteritis were identical with type strain 26W in antigenic structure (O114:K90a, 90b), and in immunoelectrophoretic pattern (ORSKOV's group 1Bb) but differed from it in fermenting salicin late (18-22 days) and in phage pattern (group A4); the strains produced colicin and were lysogenic. Pathogenicity of the organism was proved by IgM type antibodies in a patient's serum rising in a titre of 1:128 and by its enterotoxin-producing capacity shown by the rabbit ileal loop assay.