Detection of the Heat-Labile Toxin Coding Gene (LT-Gene) of Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

World-wide enteric pathogens are a leading cause of potentially preventable morbidity and mortality. They are responsible for an estimated 700-1000 million episodes of diarrhea and cause four to five million deaths each year (1 ). Infants and young children in the developing world are particularly prone to infection and dehydration. Escherichia coli was identified as the causative agent with four main groups recognized as both animal and human enteropathogens; enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC).