Evaluation of the Meridian Premier EHEC assay as an indicator of Shiga toxin presence in direct faecal specimens

Abstract Molecular testing for stx1 and/or stx2 is a reliable way of detecting Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) when faecal specimens can be cultured; however, detection of Shiga toxin in unculturable specimens is also of public health importance. The Meridian Premier EHEC assay was evaluated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease 2012-08, Vol.73 (4), p.322-325
Main Authors: Staples, Megan, Jennison, Amy V, Graham, Rikki M.A, Smith, Helen V
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bacteriological Techniques - methods
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Cell Culture Techniques - methods
Cercopithecus aethiops
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli - genetics
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli - isolation & purification
Escherichia coli Infections - diagnosis
Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology
Feces - microbiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Humans
Infectious Disease
Infectious diseases
Internal Medicine
Medical sciences
Microbiology
Miscellaneous
Molecular Diagnostic Techniques - methods
Premier EHEC EIA
Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC)
Shiga toxin
Shiga Toxin - genetics
Vero cell
Vero Cells
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Summary:Abstract Molecular testing for stx1 and/or stx2 is a reliable way of detecting Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) when faecal specimens can be cultured; however, detection of Shiga toxin in unculturable specimens is also of public health importance. The Meridian Premier EHEC assay was evaluated against the gold standard Vero cell cytotoxic assay for Shiga toxin detection in direct faecal specimens. An initial study of 817 patient specimens submitted for routine STEC detection was conducted, evaluating positive faeces detected by the Meridian assay with the Vero cell assay. Twenty-nine percent of 136 Meridian-positive faeces were confirmed as containing Shiga toxin. A further 62 faecal specimens were evaluated for statistical purposes, with all specimens tested by both Meridian and Vero cell assays. On direct faeces, the Meridian assay gave high specificity (76.95%) but low sensitivity (40%). This study confirmed that testing by Meridian assay on cultures is preferential to testing direct faeces for Shiga toxin.
ISSN:0732-8893
1879-0070
DOI:10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2012.05.004