Prevalence of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli as detected by enzyme-linked immunoassays and real-time PCR during the summer months in northern Alberta, Canada

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in northern Alberta was detected using two enzyme immunoassays and an in-house real-time PCR. Of 2,328 stool samples, 8 were positive for O157:H7 STEC and 13 were positive for non-O157 STEC. No significant gender (P = 0.17) or age (P = 0.81) differences between groups were seen. Most positive diarrheal stool samples were nonbloody.