Direct detection of Escherichia coli virulence genes by real-time PCR in fecal samples from bats in Brazil

et al.Guano samples from 412 Brazilian bats were screened with real-time PCR for the virulence genes (eae, est, elt, stx1, stx2, ehxA, invA, bfpA, aggR) representing five intestinal pathotypes of Escherichia coli. From 82 pooled samples, 22% contained Escherichia coli DNA, and eae, est, bfpA, aggR were detected.Research was supported by European Union FP7 ANTIGONE (Anticipating the Global Onset of Novel Epidemics) project 278976Peer Reviewe