Digoxigenin labelled DNA probes for rapid detection of enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic and Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli in faecal samples

Detection of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli in stool specimens cannot be performed easily in most routine laboratories. This study describes a rapid hybridization assay for identification of enterovirulent Escherichia coli in faecal samples. DNA fragment probes specific for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli were labelled with digoxigenin and produced in large quantities by polymerase chain reaction. Stool samples were cultured overnight, replica-plated and hybridized with five different probes. This method gives satisfactory results, requires a minimum number of bacteria subcultures and may be used routinely in the laboratory.