Comparison of preservation methods for enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli producing heat-labile enterotoxin.

Ten strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli producing heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) were preserved under 12 different conditions. After 1 month, 9 months, and 3 years of preservation, the cultures were recovered and examined for LT production. Preservation of the cultures on Dorset Egg Medium at 4 degrees C and preservation by freezing the cell suspensions in tryptic soy broth with 20% glycerol were found to be suitable preservation methods; all strains were alive for 3 years and had a minimum loss of LT production.