[The rapid identification of Escherichia coli using Bactident E. coli].

165 (93.7%) of 175 E. coli strains isolated from various materials of different animal species were correctly identified as E. coli with help of commercially available Bactident E. coli (E. Merck, D-6100 Darmstadt). Further 52 strains of the family of Enterobacteriaceae (2x Providencia sp., 2x Salmonella sp., 7 Citrobacter sp., 9 Proteus sp., 15 Klebsiella sp., 17 Enterobacter sp.) were correctly not identified as E. coli by this test. Bactident E. coli is a suitable test for rapid identification of E. coli in veterinary bacteriology.