Table 3 Primer sequences, expected amplicon sizes and their cycling conditions

E. coli

uidA

F: AAA ACG GCA AGA AAA AGC AG

147

5 min initial denaturation at 94 °C followed by 35 cycles of 95 °C for 30 s, 58 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min and final extension at 72 °C for 8 min

[90]

R: ACG CGT GGT TAA CAG TCT TGC G

EPEC

eaeEae

F: TCA ATG CAG TTC CGT TAT CAG TT

482

15 min initial denaturation at 95 °C followed by 35 cycles of 94 °C for 45 s, 55 °C for 45 s, 68 °C for 2 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[93]

R: GTA AAG TCC GTT ACC CCA ACC TG

bfpBfp

F: GGA AGT CAA ATT CAT GGG GGT AT

300

2 min initial denaturation at 94 °C followed by 40 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 55 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[93]

R: GGA ATC AGA CGC AGA CTG GTA GT

ETEC

ltLt

F: GGC GAC AGA TTA TAC CGT GC

450

2 min initial denaturation at 94 °C followed by 35 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 55 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[94]

G: CGG TCT CTA TAT TCC CTG TT

EAEC

eaggEagg

F: AGA CTC TGG CGA AAG ACT GTA TC

194

15 min initial denaturation at 95 °C followed by 35 cycles of 94 °C for 45 s, 55 °C for 45 s, 68 °C for 2 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[95]

R: ATG GCT GTC TGT AAT AGA TGA GAA C

EIEC

ipaH

F: CTC GGC ACG TTT TAA TAG TCT GG

933

2 min initial denaturation at 94 °C followed by 35 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 55 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[96]

R: GTG GAG AGC TGA AGT TTC TCT GC

DAEC

daaE

F: GAA CGT TGG TTA ATG TGG GGT AA

542

2 min initial denaturation at 94 °C followed by 40 cycles of 92 °C for 30 s min, 59 °C for 30 s, 72 °C for 30 s and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[96]

R: TAT TCA CCG GTC GGT TAT CAG T

EHEC

stx1

F: CAG TTA ATG TGG TGG CGA AGG

384

15 min initial denaturation at 95 °C followed by 35 cycles of 94 °C for 45 s, 55 °C for 45 s, 68 °C for 2 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[72]

R: CAC CAG ACA ATG TAA CCG CTG

stx2

F: ATC CTA TTC CCG GGA GTT TAC G

584

2 min initial denaturation at 94 °C followed by 35 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 55 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[72]

R GCG TCA TCG TAT ACA CAG GAG C

NMEC

ibeA

F: TGG AAC CCC GCT CGT AAT ATA C

342

2 min initial denaturation at 94 °C followed by 30 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 55 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[96]

R: CTG CCT GTT CAA GCA TTG CA

UPEC

papC

F: GAC GGC TGT ACT GCA GGG TGT GGC G

328

2 min initial denaturation at 94 °C followed by 30 cycles of 94 °C for 1 min, 55 °C for 1 min, 72 °C for 1 min and final extension at 72 °C for 5 min

[97]

R: ATA TCC TTT CTG CAG GGA TGC AAT A