Diarrhoeal enterotoxin production by strains of Bacillus thuringiensis isolated from commercial Bacillus thuringiensis-based insecticides.
Strains of Bacillus cereus and B. thuringiensis were tested by the Tecra VIA kit for the ability to produce a diarrhoeal enterotoxin. The strains of B. thuringiensis were isolated from commercial B. thuringiensis-based insecticides (Bactimos, DiPel, Florbac, FC, Foray 48B, Novodor FC, Turex, VecTobac, XenTari). The production of diarrhoeal enterotoxin varied by a factor of more than 100 among the different strains tested. B. cereus (F4433/73) produced the highest amount of enterotoxin and the B. thuringiensis strain isolated from DiPel the lowest. The products were tested for their content of diarrhoeal enterotoxin and all products, except MVP which does not contain viable B. thuringiensis spores, contained diarrhoeal enterotoxins. The results indicates an potential risk for gastroenteritis outbreak caused by B. thuringiensis.
Damgaard
P H
PH
Department of Ecology and Molecular Biology, Section of Zoology, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Frederiksberg C., Denmark.
D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007306:Insecticides / Q000032:analysis*
D004768:Enterotoxins; D007306:Insecticides