DNA hybridization with oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes for identifying enterotoxin-producing Escherichia coli

The DNA hybridization method using oligodeoxyribonucleotide probes was compared with the GM, ELISA and the infant mouse assay for determining production of LT and ST, respectively, by 2000 strains of Escherichia coli. Sensitivity and specificity by DNA hybridization for LT were 98.7 and 99.8%, and for ST were 78.8 and 99.6%.