An appraisal of a cell culture test for revealing the presence of E. coli thermolabile enterotoxin (L.T.).

Three methods were comparatively used for revealing the presence of thermolabile enterotoxin (L.T.) of E. coli strains causing diarrheal illness of children. From 228 patients 52 L.T.+ strains (22.8%) were identified with the classic rabbit skin test out of which 50 L.T.+ strains (21.9%) also reacted positively in a cell culture test using CHO-KI cells and only 33 L.T.+ strains (14.4%) in the rabbit intestinal loop test. The cell culture test appears to have a constant sensitivity, it is inexpensive, easy to perform and therefore adequate to be carried out in experienced field laboratories.