Several methods for rapid and accurate detection of VTe-producing E coli were established. These methods contain beta-glucuronidase-secretion test, beta-haemolysis-production test in blood agar, verocytotoxicity test, and PCR.
All of the VTe-producing strains made beta-haemolysis on 5% sheep blood agar. VTe-producing strains secreted beta-glucuronidase whereas 0157:H7 strains producing VTI or VTII did not secrete that enzyme. Verocytotoxicity test was established for rapid diagnosis. VTe detection was rapider in Vero cell suspension than Vero cell monolayer. In PCR, there was a positive result only in VTe-producing E coli, not in VTI or VTII-producing E coli.
In this experiment, 165 strains of E coli were islated from feces or intestinal contents of post-weaning piglets showing nervous sign or diarrhea. And 20 strains of E coli that produced VTe were selected by verocytotoxicity test and PCR.
According to these experiments, there was a direct correlation between verocytotoxicity test and PCR. And verocytotoxicity test is recommended as a routine diagnostic method and PCR does as a accurate diagnostic method to detect VTe-producing E coli.
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