EVALUATION OF A SPECIFIC TEST FOR ‘ATTACHING AND EFFACING’ ENTEROPATHOCENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI

Abstract

Serotyping remains the main diagnostic test for enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC). We have recently developed a fluorescent actin staining test (FAS test) which uniquely identifies the ‘attaching and effacing’ (‘A & E’) membrane lesion produced when EPEC adhere in vivo to human small intestinal mucosa or in vitro to tissue culture cells. The object of this study was to use the FAS Test to examine A) serotypable EPEC isolates and B) E. coli isolates from children with diarrhoea for their ability to adhere to cultured human embryonic lung cells and produce an ‘A & E’ lesion. 15 of 44 serotypable EPEC strains and 6 of 297 E. coli isolates were positive in the FAS test. All 6 FAS Test-positive E.coli were subsequently shown to adhere also to cultured human small intestinal mucosa and to produce an ‘A & E’ leion. Only 1 of the 6 was subsequently found to belong to a classical EPEC serogroup (0127). These results show: 1. The FAS test identifies ‘A & E’ E. coli which would not have been detected by serotyping. These ‘A & E’ E.coli which belong to non-classical EPEC serogroups are most probably human E.coli pathogens which have previously gone unrecognised. 2. There is no correlation between EPEC serotyping and the ability to cause the ‘A & E’ lesion. 3. The FAS Test is a useful addition to the current range of diagnostic tests for human E. coli enteric pathogens.

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