DETECTION OF HEAT-LABILE TOXIN IN ENTEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI USING PCR-ELISA TECHNIQUE

Background and Objective: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) are the most common agent which causes diarrhea, worldwide. ETEC is colonized along the cells and then producing heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable enterotoxigenic which enter into intestinal epithelial cells and causes water and electrolyte loss from intestinal epithelial cells and eventually cause diarrhea.This study was done to detect the heat-labile toxin in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli using PCR-ELISA technique. Methods: In this descriptive study, DIG-labeled PCR products were bounded to streptoavidin-coated wells of a microtiter plate and detected by anti-DIG–peroxidase conjugate. The biotin-labeled internal probe was used for verification of PCR products. Results: Heat-labile toxin was detected by PCR-ELISA method. The sensitivity of heat-labile toxin was 1.9 ng. This method did not cross-react with bacteria from this variety. Conclusion: PCR-ELISA method is 100 times more sensitive than conventional PCR method and due to lack of agarose gel and electrophoresis device it can be a good alternative to traditional method.