DIARRHEAL ENTEROTOXIN PRODUCTION BY STRAINS OF BACILLUS-THURINGIENSISISOLATED FROM COMMERCIAL BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS-BASED INSECTICIDES

Strains of Bacillus cereus and B. thuringiensis were tested by the Tec ra VIA kit for the ability to produce a diarrhoeal enterotoxin. The st rains of B. thuringiensis were isolated from commercial B. thuringiens is-based insecticides (Bactimos(TM) DiPel(TM), Florbac(TM) FC, Foray(T M) 48B, Novodor(TM) FC, Turex(TM), VecTobac(TM), XenTari(TM)). The pro duction 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(TM) the lowest. The products were tested for their content of diarrhoeal enterotoxin and all products, except MVP(TM) which does not contain viable B. thuringiensis spores, contained diarrhoeal ente rotoxins. The results indicates an potential risk for gastroenteritis outbreak caused by B. thuringiensis.