title: Dermal toxicity, eye and dermal irritation and skin sensitization evaluation of a new formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis SH-14.
abstract: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is the best known and most widely used of all pesticidal microbes. The aim of this study was to assess the toxicity of a new formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var israelensis SH-14 in rats through acute dermal toxicity, dermal and eye irritation experiments. The acute dermal toxicity and dermal and eye irritation studies were performed using rabbits according to the United States Environmental Protection Agency guidelines 885.3100, 870.2500 and 870.2500, respectively. The skin sensitization study was carried out in accordance to the EPA OPPTS 870.2600 using guinea pigs. There was no mortality and no evidence of treatment-related toxicity in acute dermal toxicity test. No dermal responses, including erythema/eschar or edema, were found in rabbits treated with the new formulation of Bti SH-14. Minimum response was observed after eye application of test substance. No skin sensitization reactions were observed after the challenge with the new formulation of Bti SH-14 in the Bti SH-14-treated guinea pigs. In summary, the present study demonstrated that the new formulation of Bti SH-14 is not acutely toxic via dermal route, has low eye irritation and would not cause dermal irritation or hypersensitivity to tested animals.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Laboratory Animals Breeding (CENPALAB), Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Arteaga
authors.affiliation: National Center for Laboratory Animals Breeding (CENPALAB), Habana, Cuba. Electronic address: axel.mancebo@cenpalab.inf.cu.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mancebo
authors.affiliation: LABIOFAM, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Molier
authors.affiliation: National Center for Laboratory Animals Breeding (CENPALAB), Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.affiliation: National Center for Laboratory Animals Breeding (CENPALAB), Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: National Center for Laboratory Animals Breeding (CENPALAB), Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Bada
authors.affiliation: National Center for Laboratory Animals Breeding (CENPALAB), Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biology, Habana University, Cuba.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Rojas
authors.affiliation: LABIOFAM, Habana, Cuba.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
mesh_terms: D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000818:Animals; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis; D061046:Biological Control Agents; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007509:Irritants / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute
chemical_list: D061046:Biological Control Agents; D007509:Irritants
keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis SH-14; Biological control; Dermal toxicity; Irritation; Sensitization