Enteroaggregative Escherichia
coli (EAggEC) strains cause the persistent diarrhea in infants and
compromised hosts in developing countries. These strains are currently defined
as E. coli that adheres to HEp-2
cells in an aggregative adherence (AA) pattern. In this study, we compared 4
different rapid methods for the detection of EAggEC using a PCR assay, clump
formation test, glass slide adherence assay, and the HEp-2 cell adherence
assay. Out of 683 E. coli strains
isolated from diarrheal stool samples, we detected 17 aggR and/or clump-positive strains, and identified 2 aggR-positive, clump-negative strains
and 2 aggR-negative, clump-positive
strains. All the aggR positive and
clump positive strains also showed positive results in glass slide adherence
and HEp-2 cell adherence assays. From all these results, we suggest the
following procedure for the rapid identification of EAggEC strains: first,
screen E. coli strains with the clump
formation test and subsequently perform the glass slide adherence assay to
observe AA for confirmation.
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