Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) are one of the most common causes for diarrhea worldwide, especially in children. We evaluated the rapid RIDA ® GENE (RG) real-time multiplex PCR assays (R-Biopharm, Darmstadt, Germany) for the detection of the most important diarrheagenic E. coli. Three hundred fifteen liquid or non-formed stool specimens were examined. The results of the RG multiplex assays were compared to specific PCR methods. The sensitivity and specificity of the RG PCRs were as follows, 100%/100% for the detection of EHEC, 96.3% and 99% for EPEC, 100% and 100% for the detection of EAEC, ETEC and EIEC, respectively. Overall, the RG real-time PCR system for the detection of DEC tested in this study provided reliable and rapid results and shows the ability as a useful addendum for the detection of diarrheagenic E. coli in the medical laboratory.
Keywords: Diarrheagenic E. coli; Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC); Enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC); Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC); Enterotoxinogenic E. coli (ETEC); RIDA ® GENE (RG) real-time multiplex PCR assays; Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC).
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