Background: To distinguish the different types of pathogenic E. coli with other non-pathogenic E.coli in the intestine is extremely important in diagnosis. Up to date there are at least six types of E. coli that causes diarrhea. Objectives: We have designed a multiplex PCR assay for the direct detection of 6 categories of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. Subjects and method: This techniques proved to be specific and rapid for detecting virulence genes from Shiga toxin-producing (stx and eae), enteropathoogenic (eae), enterotoxigenic (elt, est), ennteroinvasive (ipaH), enteroaggregative (aggR), and diffuse adherent (daaE) Esscherichia coli. The technique was applied to 295 clinical stool specimens. Results: The highest prevalence is EAggEC with 51 positive samples.(17.29%), 48 EIEC (16.27%), 17 EPEC (5.76%), 8 ETEC (LT) (2.71%), 5 ETEC (ST) (1.69%), 1 DAEC (0.34%), no STEC positive and 19 mix infections (6.44%). Conclusion: Multiplex PCR assay is a quick and highly accuurate technique. It is not only specific but can also amplify 7 virulence genes of diarrrheagenic E.coli at the same time. This method would offer an effective alternative to traditional culture methods for the identification and differentiation of human diarrhaegenic Escherichia coli.
direct PCR ; E.coli