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Suitability of stx ‐ PCR directly from fecal samples in clinical diagnostics of STEC
Author(s) -
Tunsjø Hege S.,
Kvissel Anne K.,
FollinArbelet Benoit,
Brotnov BethMarie,
Ranheim Trond E.,
Leegaard Truls M.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
apmis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1600-0463
pISSN - 0903-4641
DOI - 10.1111/apm.12428
Subject(s) - stx2 , shiga toxin , subtyping , feces , microbiology and biotechnology , virulence , escherichia coli , biology , polymerase chain reaction , virology , gene , genetics , computer science , programming language
PCR ‐based testing for Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli ( STEC ) directly from fecal samples is increasingly being implemented in routine diagnostic laboratories. These methods aim to detect clinically relevant amounts of microbes and not stx‐ carrying phages or low backgrounds of STEC . We present a diagnostic procedure and results from 1 year of stx ‐targeted real‐time PCR of fecal samples from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in Norway. A rapid stx2 subtyping strategy is described, which aims to quickly reveal the virulence potential of the microbe. stx was detected in 22 of 3320 samples, corresponding to a PCR positive rate of 0.66%. STEC were cultured from 72% of the PCR positive samples. Four stx1 isolates, eight stx2 isolates, and four isolates with both stx1 and stx2 were identified. With the method presented, stx ‐carrying phages are not commonly detected. Our results support the use of molecular testing combined with classical culture techniques for routine diagnostic purposes.