The ESC Unit examines stool specimens for enteric bacterial pathogens or parasites. Food samples associated with disease outbreaks are tested for a variety of bacterial pathogens. The Unit also performs bacterial cultures and molecular testing for sexually transmitted diseases. The ESC Unit performs whole cell wall analysis using gas liquid chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography to assist in the identification of bacterial isolates referred to MDCH by laboratories throughout Michigan.


William Schneider, B.S., RM(AAM), Unit Manager
517-335-9343
schneiderw@michigan.gov

TESTING PERFORMED WITHIN THIS UNIT:

The following testing is performed in the ESC Unit at the Bureau of Laboratories, MDCH.

• Enteric pathogens - Routine isolation and identification of Salmonella spp.,Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., and E. coli 0157:H7. Isolation and identification of other enteric pathogens upon request.
• Enteric serotyping - Complete serotyping of Salmonella and Shigella isolates. Serotyping of E. coli 0157:H7. All isolated E. coli submitted to this laboratory are tested for Shiga-like toxin, STX 1 and STX 2.   All isolates positive for either toxin are serotyped in this laboratory or sent to the Centers for Disease Control for serotyping.
• Parasitology - Routine identification of ova and parasites from preserved fecal specimens. Identification of parasites in blood films on stained slides. Identification of worms from human fecal specimens.
• Food poisoning - Isolation and identification of various foodborne pathogens implicated in outbreaks.  This may include plate counts and/or bacterial toxin testing. This testing must be coordinated through the local health agency, Bureau of Laboratories and Communicable Disease Epidemiology Division, MDCH.

• STD Testing:
  1. Neisseria cultures - Identification of isolates of Neisseria spp. submitted to MDCH. Serotyping of isolates of N. meningitidis from sterile sites. Isolation and identification of N. gonorrhoeae from specimens obtained on Thayer-Martin plates.  Susceptibility testing is performed on all N. gonorrhoeae isolates.
     
  2. Non-culture detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae in human urogenital or urine specimens. 
  
  
• Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin 1 (TSST 1) - Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, from patients with symptoms compatible with toxic shock, are tested for production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 as well as for S. aureus toxins A, B, C and D.   Testing must be approved by Bureau of Laboratories.
• Chromatography - Cell wall analysis using gas liquid chromatography (GLC) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to assist in the identification of bacterial isolates referred to Bureau of Laboratories by clinical laboratories throughout Michigan.
• Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) - DNA fingerprinting of bacterial isolates for foodborne disease surveillance (PulseNet) and outbreak investigations.

Rev. 2/2008