Multiplex Real-Time PCR Assay for the Detection of LT, STIa and STIb Genes in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Diarrhea is an important cause of illness and death among all age groups on a global scale. enterotoxigenic escherichia coli (etec) protozoans were established as a causative agent of diarrhea in developing and developed countries. the identification of diarrheagenic e. coli (dec) strains needs to detect the factors that determine the virulence of these organisms. in this study, we aimed to use the multiplex real-time (mrt) and multiplex pcr assays for identification of etec in patients with diarrhea in shiraz, iran. a total of 430 stool samples were collected from patients with diarrhea in shiraz, in 2012. diarrheagenic e. coli (dec) strains were isolated by standard biochemical analysis. we used mrt-pcr and multiplex pcr (mpcr) assays to detect the presence of lt, stιa and stιb genes in etec. in this study, 430 stool samples were tested and 52 (12.1%) were identified as contaminated with e. coli using standard biochemical tests. the etec were detected in eight patients (15.4%) with diarrhea by the mrt-pcr and mpcr methods. the results of this study showed that four out of eight strains (50%) were stιa producer, and three out of eight strains were st producers (37.5%). also, one strain (12.5%) contained both stιa and lt genes, simultaneously. this is the first study performed in shiraz to identify etec intestinal pathogens in patients with diarrhea. the results of this study showed that mrt-pcr can be used as a replacement for the conventional mpcr assay to detect the etec strains.