title: An investigation of bacillus thuringiensis in rectal-collected fecal samples of cows.
abstract: In order to better understand the range and role of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and its toxins in nature, we have undertaken a study of Bt taken directly from the rectum of 117 cows from 37 farms on the Caribbean island of Trinidad. Thirty-seven fecal samples (32%) were found to contain at least one Bt. Generally only one or two isolates with a particular crystal morphology were isolated from any one sample, however, a few samples contained more, up to 11 isolates, suggesting post-ingestion amplification. Bioassays using larvae of Musca domestica, Caenorhabditis elegans and Tetrahymena pyriformis showed no observable toxicity in gross bioassays. Very small dot-like parasporal bodies, not generally characteristic of Bt, were isolated from 44% of the samples, which in many instances appeared unstable and whose relation to Bt Cry protein-containing parasporal bodies is unknown. In conclusion, we find little evidence for a host adapted strain of Bt in the cows examined, nor toxicity to organisms that might logically be associated with either the cow or its feces. The presence of a large number of isolates containing small dot-like parasporal bodies, possibly either poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate storage bodies or Cry proteins, was unexpected and merits further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas-Pan American, 1201 W. University Drive, Edinburg, TX 78539, USA. ammonstt@hotmail.com
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Ammons
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reyna
authors.forename: Jose Cristobal
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Samlal
authors.forename: Joanne N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Rampersad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001681:Biological Assay; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects; D002417:Cattle; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006793:Houseflies / Q000187:drug effects; D002479:Inclusion Bodies / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D012007:Rectum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013769:Tetrahymena pyriformis / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000083722:Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004731:Endotoxins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C030956:insecticidal crystal protein, Bacillus Thuringiensis
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