[Evaluation of usefulness of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies to lipopolysaccharides of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains in patients with gastrointestinal disorders and patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome].

Introduction: Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains are an important zoonotic food-borne and waterborne pathogens causing diarrhea and the severe hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. The aim of the study was to evaluate the usefulness of enzyme immunoassay ELISA for detection of antibodies to the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of EHEC in patients with gastrointestinal disorders and patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

Material and methods: Sera obtained from 526 patients with gastrointestinal disorders, 26 patients with HUS and 74 patients with different bacterial gastroenteritis infections were screened by an LPS-based ELISA. The LPS antigens of EHEC belonging to serogroups O26, O103, O104, O111, O121, O145, and O157 were obtained by modified Boivin's method. Additionally, to determine the cut-off level, the 122 sera from healthy people were tested. Cellular extract from E. coli O14 were used to remove by absorption antibodies to the Enterobacteriaceae Common Antigen (ECA).

Results: Generally, seroprevalence of antibodies to the LPS of different EHEC serogroups in patients with gastrointestinal disorders was low. Additionally, interpretation of the some positive results was difficult to the fact of many serological mutual interactions. Particularly a lot of cross-reactions were seen in the group of sera obtained from patients with different bacterial gastroenteritis infections. The study showed also that in most cases the absorption of antibodies to the ECA had no significant effect on the cross-reactions observed in ELISA. On the other hand, the very high level of antibodies to the LPS antigen of E. coli O26 was found in 5 patients, to E. coli O157 in 4 patients, to E. coli O104 and O145 in 3 patients and E. coli O111 in 2 patients with HUS. Analysis of antibody levels in paired sera taken 2-3 weeks apart obtained from six HUS patients showed a rapid decline of antibody levels to the LPS antigens.

Conclusions: The results showed the usefulness of the ELISA with lipopolysaccharides antigens to serodiagnosis of infection caused by EHEC. Due to the possibility of cross- -reaction there is a need to develop more specific antigens, based on the recombinant proteins of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli.