title: Vertebrate safety of Clostridium bifermentans serovar malaysia, a new larvicidal agent for vector control.
abstract: The safety of bacterial cells of Clostridium bifermentans serovar malaysia, which is highly toxic to mosquito larvae, was tested on mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and goldfish. Inoculations of at least 1 x 10(8) cells per animal by routes recommended by World Health Organization (subcutaneous, percutaneous, inhalation, force-feeding, intraperitoneal, intravenous) and tests of subacute toxicity, anaphylactic shock, persistence in heart blood, and virulence by successive passages, were performed on mice, guinea pigs, or both. Growth was monitored for 1 mo before necropsy. Ocular irritation and skin scarification were tested with rabbits. C. bifermentans serovar malaysia did not induce any mortality or abnormal reactions in mammals at a dose 1,000 times higher than the level established by W.H.O. for the demonstration of safety. Bacterial cells are not toxic to goldfish at a dose 1,000 times higher than the LD50 for the target-mosquito larvae. We conclude that C. bifermentans serovar malaysia bacterial cells are safe for laboratory mammals and goldfish.
authors.affiliation: Unité des Bactéries Entomopathogènes, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thiery
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hamon
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Dumanoir
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: de Barjac
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003013:Clostridium; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007306:Insecticides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009032:Mosquito Control; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides