[Evaluation of a complex method of identifying enteropathogenic Escherichia using O- and H-sera and a rational...

A complex method for the identification of enteropathogenic Escherichia by means of adsorbed monogroup and factor O-sera, H-sera and a rational combination of biochemical tests (using triple sugar iron agar or Kligler iron agar, Simmons citrate agar, phenylalanine-, urea-, sodium malonate-containing media, indole broth, medium for mobility determination) was evaluated. The use of adsorbed monogroup O-sera in the slide agglutination test reduced the time of the study and increased its accuracy by 20.0 +/- 2.5% (6.9 +/- 2.5% to 52.4 +/- 11.1% for Escherichia of different O-groups) in comparison with the generally accepted method. The use factor O-sera and H-sera and H-sera revealed the circulation of the same O-groups belonging to different serovars and differing in partial composition a O-antigen (of the type ab - ac) and in H-antigens, which should be taken into consideration for epidemiological purposes. The combination of biochemical tests ensured correct determination of the genus of the organisms under study. The tested method is recommended for practical use.