Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect Shiga toxin of Shigella dysenteriae and related toxins.

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for detection of Shiga toxin. Four species of Shigella, Escherichia coli, and Vibro parahaemolyticus were tested for production of Shiga or Shiga-like toxin by ELISA and Vero cell bioassay. In the ELISA, most strains of S. dysenteriae and some strains of E. coli isolated from traveler's diarrhea were positive. These ELISA-positive strains were positive by Vero cell bioassay without exception. Some E. coli strains and most V. parahaemolyticus strains were toxic to Vero cells, although they were negative in the ELISA. Much of the cytotoxic activity was not neutralized by anti-Shiga toxin antiserum. The newly developed sandwich ELISA is specific and can be a substitute for the cumbersome Vero cell bioassay.