Abstract |
In 1976, Kilian and Bulow described the association of B-Glucuronidase with the genus Escherichia (97% positive) and suggested that a B-Glucuronidase assay would be a useful identification test. Since that report, papers about the sensitivity and specificity of this enzyme for the identification of Escherichia coli from clinical sources, food, seawater, potable-water supplies, and various environmental sources have appeared. A study was undertaken to determine the efficacy and specificity of the defined-substrate technology B-glucuronidase (Colilert) assay for the identification of this species from fecal samples. A total of 460 human, 105 cow, and 55 horse E. coli isolates were tested. Results showed 95.5% B-Glucuronidase-positive isolates in 24 h and 99.5% positive after 28 h of incubation. Only one E. coli isolate was negative. There were no significant differences in the percentage of B-Glucuronidase-positive isolates among the human or animal isolates. There were no non-E. coli isolates that were positive. All subjects carried B-Glucuronidase-positive E. coli. (Copyright (c) 1990 American Society for Microbiology.) |