What is the diagnostic value of beta-D-glucuronidase (BDG) activity of bacteria using Fluorocult ECD agar for their cultivation?

ABSTRACT

A total of 1510 strains from 15 genera of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria were studied. More than 94% of 327 Escherichia coli strains showed beta-D-glucuronidase (BDG) activity. Seventeen serotypes from 170 E. coli O serogroup representatives were negative. Relationship between the existence of BDG positive and negative E. coli strains in the same serogroup or serotype has not been observed. The rate of BDG positivity was 42% among Salmonella arizonae strains and 42.2% among Shigella strains. Only one Citrobacter strain out of the 971 strains belonging to Citrobacter, Edwardsiella, Enterobacter, Hafnia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Serratia, Yersinia, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Vibrio and Listeria was BDG positive. A screening method based on only BDG activity is not sufficient for the primary diagnosis of E. coli.